Former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, Lagos State, Adesina Ogunlana, has passed away.
Ogunlana, 60, reportedly collapsed in his office on Tuesday evening at Fadeyi, along Ikorodu Road, Lagos. He had not been publicly known to suffer from any illness.
Known as “Serubawon,” Ogunlana was a fearless and radical human rights activist who recently celebrated his 60th birthday with a lecture at the Ikeja Bar Centre. He served as the NBA Chairman of the Ikeja Branch from 2016 to 2018 and was a leading lawyer advocating for the victims of the #EndSARS protests in Lagos in 2020.
The NBA and its Ikeja branch mourned Ogunlana’s passing in separate statements. Akorede Habeeb Lawal, the NBA’s National Publicity Secretary, expressed the National Executive Committee’s (NEC) sadness over the loss of Ogunlana, praising his active leadership and commitment to justice during his tenure.
“His term as the Chairman of the NBA Ikeja Branch witnessed a renaissance within the Bar as he actively led protests against the Land Use Charge increase by the Lagos State Government in 2018,” Lawal stated. He added that Ogunlana’s passing is a monumental loss, highlighting his participation in the Nationwide Hunger Protest in Lagos last week and his lifelong dedication to the rule of law, effective administration of justice, and human rights.
Gideon Adeyeni, a rights activist and Project Officer at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), expressed shock at Ogunlana’s death, recalling his active involvement in the recent #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests at Freedom Park.
Another activist, Olufemi Samuel, remembered their last interaction during the August 1st protest at Ojota. “We talked about the situation of the country, gisted about his 60th birthday, and took pictures with comrades. May his soul rest in peace,” Samuel said.
Issa Adedokun, Secretary of the NBA’s Ikeja Branch, announced Ogunlana’s death and stated that burial arrangements would be communicated by the deceased’s family. The branch expressed deep sadness over the loss of their beloved leader, recognizing his significant contributions to the legal profession and the country.
A close associate of Ogunlana remarked on his relentless pursuit of justice, stating, “He died at his desk doing what he loved most, fighting for justice for all. May his soul rest in eternal power.”
