The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed sadness over the death of former chairman of the association’s branch in Ikeja Adesina Ogunlana, noting that he participated in the recent hunger protest.
The lawyer died on Tuesday. He celebrated his 60th birthday at the branch secretariat on Saturday, July 27.
Ogunlana represented actor Baba Ijesha pro bono after the latter was arrested in 2021 for sexually assaulting a minor. But the actor’s family tagged Ogunlana a self-paraded lawyer and appointed Kayode Olabiran and Jane Ogunbiyi as the actor’s legal representatives.
In a statement on Wednesday signed by the national executive committee of the NBA, through the national publicity secretary, Akorede Lawal, the body said Ogunlana’s passage is a monumental loss.
The statement also said that Ogundare’s term as the chairman of the NBA Ikeja branch between 2016 and 2018 witnessed a renaissance of some sort within the bar, as he actively led the protest against the increase in the land use charge introduced by the Lagos State Government in 2018.
The statement read,” It is with great sadness that the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association received the news today of the passage of one of the illustrious members of the NBA, Adesina Ogunlana, Esq.
“Mr. Ogunlana was a former chairman of the Ikeja Branch of the NBA.
“His term as the Chairman of the NBA Ikeja Branch between 2016 and 2018 witnessed a renaissance of some sort within the Bar, as he actively led the protest against the increase in the Land Use Charge introduced by the Lagos State Government in 2018.
“In this time, when citizens of this country look up to conscientious members of the legal profession for direction, the passage of Adesina Ogunlana is a monumental loss, as he was an activist in the exact sense of the word.
“Not one to shy away from standing firmly on the side of the people, Mr Ogunlana actively participated in the Nationwide Hunger Protest in Lagos last week.
“Through his life works as an advocate in the courtroom and publisher of Squib Magazine, Mr. Ogunlana, who recently celebrated his 60th birthday, was renowned for his active commitment to the rule of law, effective administration of justice, and protection of human rights.”
The NBA condoled with Ogunlana’s family, friends and members of its Ikeja branch.
