We Know Him to be Very Courageous- NBA Mourns Akeredolu

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) deeply mourns the loss of former Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, hailing him as one of the most influential and courageous presidents in the history of the association.

Akeredolu, who became the NBA president from 2008 to 2010, was not only a legal luminary called to the Bar in 1978 but also made significant contributions to the growth of Ondo State and the South West region.

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Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, the NBA president, expressed heartfelt condolences, highlighting Akeredolu’s pivotal roles, including serving as Secretary and Vice Chair of the Ibadan Branch before assuming the 24th presidency. Akeredolu’s impact extended beyond the legal sphere, with notable positions such as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice (1997-1999) and two-term Governor (2017 until his passing).

The statement read, “It is with a heavy heart that I pay tribute to His Excellency, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, the Executive Governor of Ondo State and Past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, whose transition took place on  December 27, 2023, after a protracted ill-health.

“He variously served as Secretary and Vice Chair of the Ibadan Branch and went on to become the 24th President of the Association from 2008 to 2010 – one of the most influential and courageous Presidents ever to lead the NBA.

“The late learned Senior Advocate also served the nation in various other capacities at different times, one of which was as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice from 1997 to 1999 and later as two-term Governor from 2017 till his demise.

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“He will be positively remembered for his several contributions to the growth and development of Ondo State and the entire region. As Governor, Aketi was at the forefront of the establishment of the regional security network, Amotekun, to address security concerns in the western region. So far, the network has been effective in stemming the tide of terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry, etc., within the region and currently stands as  a model for other regions to emulate.”