GOK Ajayi explained

G.O.K Ajayi
Birth Name:Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi
Birth Date:29 May 1931
Birth Place:Ogun State, Nigeria
Death Place:Reddington Hospital Lagos
Alma Mater:London School of Economics
Nationality:Nigerian
Occupation:Lawyer, Advocate

Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi, SAN (29 May 1931 – 31 March 2014) popularly known by his initials GOK Ajayi, was a prominent Nigerian lawyer.[1]

Early life

Ajayi was born on 29 May, 1931, at Ijebu Ode, a city in Ogun State southwestern Nigeria.[2] He had his elementary education at Ijebu Ode Nursery School and St Saviours' School in Lagos state before he attended CMS Grammar School where he obtained the Cambridge School Certificate in 1948.[3] He went to the London School of Economics where he received a bachelor's degree in law.[4]

Law career

Ajayi was called to the English bar in 1955 and the Nigerian bar in 1957. He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1978, along with Chief Kehinde Sofola, Remi Fani-Kayode and Obafemi Awolowo, the national leader of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria.[5]

He was the lawyer of the now-defunct Unity Party of Nigeria and Awolowo's solicitor in the Awolowo v. Shagari case on September 26, 1979, in which Chief Obafemi Awolowo's petition challenged the declaration of Shehu Shagari as the winner of the August 11, 1979, presidential election.[6] The late Justice Kayode Eso, presided over the case.[7]

He was Moshood Abiola's solicitor in the case of annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.[8]

Ajayi died on March 31, 2013, in the intensive care unit of Reddington Hospital in Lagos State.[9]

His nephews include the actor O. T. Fagbenle, the film producer Luti Fagbenle and the music video producer Oladapo Fagbenle. A niece is the basketball player Temi Fagbenle.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gok Ajayi, 1931-2014: A Progressive Lawyer. 6 April 2014. Leadership. 26 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20140627080913/http://leadership.ng/opinions/editorial/363472/gok-ajayi-1931-2014-progressive-lawyer. 27 June 2014. dead.
    - Web site: Legal giant GOK Ajayi dies at 82. The Nation. 31 March 2014. 26 April 2015.
  2. Web site: GOK Ajayi goes home amidst eulogies, tributes . The Punch. Samuel Awoyinfa. 31 May 2014. 26 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140601011007/http://www.punchng.com/news/gok-ajayi-goes-home-amidst-eulogies-tributes/ . 1 June 2014 .
  3. Web site: GOK Ajayi: Falana, Osipitan, others mourn . New Telegraph. 31 March 2014 . 26 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150422080403/http://newtelegraphonline.com/gok-ajayi-falana-osipitan-others-mourn/ . 22 April 2015 .
  4. Web site: GOK Ajayi dies at 83 . Lanre Adewole . Bola Badmus . Ayomide Owonibi . Matthew Asabor . Nigerian Tribune . 31 March 2014. 26 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140525193405/http://tribune.com.ng/news/top-stories/item/2434-gok-ajayi-dies-at-83/2434-gok-ajayi-dies-at-83 . 25 May 2014 .
  5. Web site: GOK Ajayi Passes On at 83. Davidson Iriekpen and Tobi Soniyi . This Day Live. 31 March 2014. 26 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151117030656/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/gok-ajayi-passes-on-at-83/174977/ . 17 November 2015 .
  6. Web site: Excerpt from Eso's dissenting judgment in Awolowo v Shagari case. The Punch . 26 April 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130303131958/http://www.punchng.com/feature/the-law-you/excerpt-from-esos-dissenting-judgment-in-awolowo-v-shagari-case-3/. 3 March 2013.
  7. Web site: Justice Kayode Eso dies at 87 . Daily Independent. Adedeji Adams, Ajibola Abayomi, Sola Shittu, Gbenga Faturoti, Oladele Ogunsola. 17 November 2012 . 26 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130313034923/http://dailyindependentnig.com/2012/11/justice-kayode-eso-dies-at-87/ . 13 March 2013 .
  8. http://saharareporters.com/2014/03/30/abiola’s-lawyer-gok-ajayi-dead "Abiola’s Lawyer, GOK Ajayi, Dead"
  9. Web site: GOK Ajayi dies @ 82 as eminent Nigerians mourn. Vanguard News. Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe . 26 April 2015.
  10. https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2018/05/22/celebrated-columnist-tunde-fagbenle-loses-son/ "Celebrated Columnist, Tunde Fagbenle loses son"

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "GOK Ajayi".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.