Reminiscences | Ayoola recalls Babalola’s early days at the Bar.
That the Founder and President Emeritus of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, is rugged, dogged, determined, industrious, courageous and hard working with an uncanny knack for excellence is probably no more news.
What may be new is the fact that he did not cultivate these habits yesterday or early this morning: they have all been part and parcel of the octogenarian legal icon, educationist, farmer, musician and Public Affairs commentator over time.
This revelation came to the fore during the 4th Annual Lecture organized in his honour by Ado-Ekiti Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association last week. And who let the cat out of the bag? It was no other person than former Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Emmanuel Ayoola (retd), under whom, together with his younger brother, the late Hon. Justice Yinka Ayoola, Babalola started his legal pupilage in 1963.
Ayoola, the man who knew the sunrise of Babalola’s luxuriant legal career, was deservedly Babalola’s choice as the Chairman for the day and that qualified him (Ayoola) to set the ball of the event rolling with some remarks. The erudite, engaging and charismatic as well as sartorial Jurist certainly had something he wanted the audience, made up of movers and shakers at the Bar and on the Bench as well as some seasoned legal academics, to know about the honouree.
As trendy as ever, the eminent Jurist flagged off by congratulating the Ado-Ekiti Branch of the NBA for its vision at organizing the Annual Lecture in honour of the legal icon who has contributed immensely to the development of the nation’s legal system and jurisprudence.
Because of the import and aroma of the repast he wanted to dish out, he bemoaned that the time allocated to the ceremony was certainly not enough to celebrate Babalola. That notwithstanding, he expressed his delight at being present to let the audience into how himself and Babalola came into contact with each other in 1963 and how they have remained as close as ever since then.
Describing Babalola as a lawyer of lawyers, Ayoola recalled how Babalola came to the Law firm of the Ayoola Brothers in Ibadan in 1963 with a very big Mercedes Benz which made him (Ayoola) to ask how this man with a big Benz would fit into their chambers.
In the usual Babalola persona, he worked his way into the heart of his Principals through diligence, dedication, industry courage and excellence and therefore was able to add immeasurable value and quality to the workings of the high brow chambers.
According to Ayoola, “Afe, as he then was, was diligent in his preparation of cases and we followed his model in our chambers. He was not only diligent, he was industrious and unassuming. He is a lion in the court and a lamb out of court”.
He recalled an occasion when Babalola was to represent a client at an Ilesa High Court, but was involved in an accident very close to Ile-Ife and his Mercedes Benz split into two, but the determined and undaunted barrister quickly put the calamity behind him and made his way to Ilesa in pursuit of his client’s case.
His words: “soon after the accident, words came to us in our chambers in Ibadan that Afe has been involved in an accident. We quickly made our way to the scene of the accident where we saw his Mercedes Benz split into two, but we did not see Afe. We then went to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, Ile-Ife to inquire whether they had admitted any accident victim. They said there was nothing like that.
“We went to the Police who said they had no trace of him. We then made our way to the mortuary, perhaps…, but still there was no trace of him. As a last resort, we made our way to the High in Ilesa, lo and behold; there we met Afe in court, arguing his case. And I said what kind of human being is this. We persuaded him to leave the court and follow us to Ibadan and I remember I did to talk to him for several days after that. That is the stuff the honouree of today is made of.
Describing Babalola as a man who is completely sold to dedication, industry and courage as well as excellence, Ayoola gave kudos to the Founder and President Emeritus of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) for adding value and quality to the Chambers of Ayoola Brothers where Babalola had his pupilage upon his return to the country after being called to the Bar in England in 1963.
The former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) noted that Babalola is not just a visionary; he is a visionary who brings his vision into reality. He is also not just a national icon, but an international icon of note.
Ayoola availed himself of the opportunity of the Lecture to minister to the university’s law students when he said: “And now to my learned friends, the would-be lawyers: you have a lot to learn and borrow from your Founder. It is good to see yourselves in wigs and gowns in court, but the reality is for you to work towards it. The future is good and the best is yet to come”.
A man known for his well-measured witticism said he was delighted when he learnt that the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Okey Wali, would speak on Professional Ethics and the Future of Legal Profession in Nigeria, he simply said “If it is Okey, then, it is okay”.
He thanked Babalola and the organizers of the lecture for allowing him to share in the joy of the occasion.
Tunde Olofintila wrote from Lagos.