Aiyedatiwa, Ooni of Ife, Olanipekun, Oyetibo shine at Okitipupa Bar Law Week Grand finale

 

By Steve Ovirih.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has assured The Bar and The Bench in Okitipupa Judicial Division of the rehabilitation of Okitipupa High Court. The Governor, among other promises, assured the prompt completion of The Okitipupa Bar Center for NBA Okitipupa Branch as well as the provision of a luxury bus for the Lawyers’ ease of movement.

The Governor made this pledge on Wednesday, 8th April, 2026 at the Ojaja Park Akure, venue of the 2026 Law Week of The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA Okitipupa Branch.

Governor Aiyedatiwa appreciated the Barr.Tola Odutola led Exco of The Bar for its proactive measure in projecting the NBA. In his goodwill remark, Governor Aiyedatiwa said Ondo State has a projection that will expand the state’s economic frontiers, adding that the state boasts of a huge deposit of Bitumen which exploitation will boost growth statistics. Consolidating his assurance for the NBA members, he instructed the leadership of the Okitipupa Branch to liaise with the appropriate authority in the state for the prompt delivery of the luxury bus.

The Leadership of NBA presented the Governor with the award of The Grand Chancellor of Good Governance.

Earlier, the Chairman of the high octane event, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, a prominent icon of the Nigerian Legal profession, in his remark had appealed to the Governor to grant the petition of The Okitipupa NBA Branch for the completion of their Bar Center and a bus, stressing that the Bar had requested him to make these reliefs official.

 

Applause followed the granting of the prayers by the State Governor.

Chief Wole Olanipekun,SAN speaking to the topic ‘Imperatives of The Judiciary in a Working Democracy- The Common Law Jurisdiction and The Nigerian Experience,’ said the theme struck at the very core of both the Rule of Law and Democracy. He noted that the topic bestrides the essential cornerstones of a stable polity which can only be anchored by an independent Judiciary.

Olanipekun maintained that the system is immersed in a frequent cries of demand for justice and complaints of injustice. “As a legal practitioner with five decades of experience, my understanding is that the focus of every engagement in the discharge of our calling is the actualization of justice. The point is that the word ‘justice’ is a household expression, which appears to be the ultimate purpose of several human endeavours.”

Olanipekun expressed his worries over the troubling trend of the judicialization of every considerable dispute or transaction , while particularly condemning the judicialization of the ballot in Nigeria. He stressed that to safeguard the nation’s fledgling democracy and democratic structures, there is need for a sound reflection on what should be the proper metrics of judicial intervention and the collective responsibility of all stakeholders. Chief Olanipekun was presented an award in recognition of his giant strides in the legal profession.

Doing justice to the theme of the Law week, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, Guest Speaker at the event affirmed that judicial independence is critical to democratic governance as it ensures that judges operate free from undue influence, thereby upholding the rule of law, protecting human rights and maintaining public confidence in legal institutions.

Oyetibo said, “judicial independence is concomitant of democracy just as democracy is built upon the principle of separation of powers among the executive, legislature and judicial branches of government.

He noted that the arrangement or concept of Separation of powers depends, to a large extent , on the independence of the judiciary. “The impartiality of the judiciary is therefore a function of its independence,” Oyetibo concurred.

Condemning political absolutism which kicks against the independence of the judiciary, Oyetibo, SAN, said, “the evolution of judicial independence in common law jurisdiction is historically traceable to the 17th century Glorious Revolution which occured in England in 1668 in which King James II of England was overthrown for his political absolutism.”

Prescribing mechanism for ensuring Judicial Independence, the Guest Speaker highlighted the insulation of judges appointment from politics, tenure of office for judges, matter of discipline, financial autonomy, non- interference with judicial making process among others. Stressing the need for the independence of the Judiciary, Oyetibo stressed that no foreign investor would like to put their hard-earned money in an economy with a compromised judiciary.

For his impact on advocacy, constitutional reform and legal scholarship in Nigeria, NBA Okitipupa honored the Guest Speaker with a profound recognition award.

Oonirisa, Arole Oodua and Ojaja II, HIM Oba, Dr.Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi,CFR, who in his amiable disposition described himself as ‘the traditional Counsel’ to Ondo State Governor, a remark which drew ovation and pleasant laughter from the audience, noted that the Grand finale is by all standard grand indeed, reiterating the fact that the Tola Odusola led leadership of the Okitipupa NBA did a great job of pulling a commendable feat, bringing notable icons of Law together regardless of their tight schedule.

Oba Ogunwusi promised facility and logistic support for the Okitipupa Bar Center at completion, while thanking Governor Aiyedatiwa for promptly granting the request of the Lawyers.

The event featured donations and presentation of awards to worthy dignitaries among whom were the Ooni of Ife Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Dr.Kayode Ajulo, SAN, Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice;Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, the guest speaker,Dr.Remi Olatubora, SAN, Hon.Dr.Kingsley Kemebradigha Kuku, Chief Benjamin Olomodegun and Sir.(Dr.) Sehinde Fadeni.

While thanking Chief Olusola Alexandra Oke, SAN for his advice , leverage and conviction which led to the success of the Law Week, Chair Planning Committee, Dr.Abdul Olajide Ajana, SAN said NBA Okitipupa has been in the forefront of advocacy for the improvement of the judiciary facilities in Ondo State, adding that it is from this perspective that the Tola Odusola led Exco during the 2025 legal year celebration advocated the long- out standing rebuilding of the entire High Court Complex in Okitipupa razed and reduced to ruins during the endsars protest of 2020.

Speaking in an exclusive chat with the polity.net on the fringe of the event, Tayo Oyetibo,SAN lend his voice to the concept of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) which he said has already gained ground in Lagos, even as he maintained that other states are keying into this process of dispute resolution which fast tracks the dispute resolution template.He advised the NBA Branch Okitipupa not to relent in their projection of the common law jurisdiction in Nigeria.

Chief Olusola Oke ,SAN who also chatted with the polity.net congratulated the NBA Okitipupa Branch for hosting such a huge and successful Law Week with such an array of guests, saluting the all encompassing leadership approach of the Tola Odusola led Exco.

Beaming all smiles, NBA Chairman Okitipupa Branch, Omotola Odusola,ESQ, in his exclusive chat with the polity net, said the event is a confirmation of the collective success of a cohesive NBA Branch, noting that the sky is obviously not the limit for NBA Okitipupa.

The Law week had in attendance topnotch guests including Hon.Justice Ayedun Olusegun Odusola, Chief Judge of Ondo State, who was the Grand Host, Chief Nehemiah Ebiseni, Sec-Gen, Afenifere, Tunji Osomo,SAN, Chief Bamidele Omosehin, Justice Wumi Fabuluje,Chief Magistrate Margaret Aderemi, Barr.Umar Onimisi, Mrs.Oluronke Olufunmi, Akogun Akinwumi Sowore, Eric Yanyangbinrin among others.

Ondo South monarchs among whom were HIM Oba Segun Akinyomi, Amapetu Mahin, Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Oladimeji Odidiomo, a legal practitioner, Ahaba of Ajagba, Oba Thomas Ademusayo, Lumure of Aiyeka,Oba Babatunde Ariyibi Ayeyowa, The Maporure of Agerige, Oba Raphael Ilesanmi Ikuemonisan and others graced the event.