Chief Akinjide, who is no doubt one of the prides of Yoruba nation and Nigeria as a whole was born in the city of Ibadan in early 1932 to a famous and influential family of warriors.
He attended the renowned Oduduwa College, Ile Ife from where he graduated with Grade One.
Following his unprecedented brilliance and excellent performance, Chief Akinjide travelled to the United Kingdom in 1951 for his law degree and was called to the English Bar, the Inner Temple in 1955 and later the Nigerian Bar in March 1956.
In recognition of his leadership traits and excellent performance at the local level, the young Akinjide was appointed the minister of education by the then Prime Minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa.
The defender of the defenceless also tasted the other side of life as he spent eighteen months in detention following the January 15, 1966 coup.
Chief Akinjide was a member of the Judicial System Sub-Committee of the Constitution Drafting Committee between 1975 and 1977 later joined the National Party of Nigeria in 1978 and became the legal adviser of the party.
Being a highly versatile and a foremost legal luminary by then, Chief Akinjide became a senior advocate of Nigeria, SAN
The Ibadan born politician was later appointed the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice by President Sheu Shagari in 1979, under the Second Republic.
The erudite lawyer became president, Nigeria Bar Association, NBA from 1970 to 1973, because of his services to the nation, he was awarded the national honour of a commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, in 2002. Chief Akinjide had forty seven publications to his name, while ten members of his family read law.
Under his watch in the nation’s judiciary, Chief Akinjide temporarily reversed executions of armed robbers and abolition of a decree barring exiles from returning to the country.
The illustrious son of Ibadan was the lead prosecutor in the treason trial of Bukar Zana Mandara which led to the eviction of many illegal foreign nationals from Nigeria.
This singular act of the legal icon exposed some weaknesses within the West African economic community.
The role of Chief Akinjide in the 1979 presidential election tribunal cannot be forgotten in a jiffy.
A detribalized Senior Advocate of Nigeria played a very prominent role which led to the legal victory of the eventual winner of the election of National Party of Nigeria, Alhaji Sheu Shagari at the Presidential Election Tribunal petition instituted by the candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
The triumph of Alhaji Sheu Shagari at the Supreme Court in the celebrated case earned Chief Akinjide the title of twelve-two third among lawyers and the public.
Chief Richard Osuolale Abimbola Akinjide’s legacies of humility, professionalism, brilliance, service to god and humanity would forever linger in the minds of all Nigerians.
The legal icon, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party died of old age related ailment in the night of April 20, 2020 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan at the age of eighty nine.
Morenike Tony-Esan
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