PanNigerianNews 
By Sunday Ogunkuade
Barrister Ayoola Adelekan David Ajayi stands tall among his peers, not only for his contributions to the legal field but his expansive views and knowledge on corporate governance and other areas of nation-building. Ayoola Ajayi was recognized as he received award of participation as a guest speaker/discussant at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyo branch in the association’s one day symposium and dinner held on Friday, June 20, 2024 in honour of Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, CON, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation and Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, CON at Labamba Hotel, Oyo. Under the distinguished Chairmanship of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, CFR. The Chief host was Hon. Justice, I. S. Yerima, the Chief Judge of Oyo State.
Ayoola Ajayi was one of the guests speakers along side Justice M. O. Ishola, Justice O. I. Aiki (Rtd), Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN, Oluseun Abimbola, SAN and Adebayo Adegbite. Other Speakers include Ademola Babalola, Kayoed Martins, Gaius Okwezuzu, Olasupo Bada, Sunday Adebayo and Adebola Ayinde Hamzat, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police. Barrister Ajayi from his side spoke on the theme: “ELECTION LITIGATION IN NIGERIA: HAS THE JUDICIARY LIVED UP TO ITS BILLING AS THE LAST HOPE OF COMMON MAN? In his remarks, Barrister Ajayi suggested that holistic review of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) relating to election Matters, the Electoral Act, Regulations and guidelines relating to elections in Nigeria should be reviewed. In addition, Ajayi said that, the Judge need to remain severely impartial in the correction of errors made by a party in the case before him. Barrister Ayoola urges the Judge not to give the least impression of learning to either of the parties. Furthermore, he encouraged the lawyers to focus on their significant roles as the officers in the temple of Justice. He let them know that, they have the bounden duty to protect; the integrity of the judiciary in making the judiciary to occupy its position as the last hope of a common man. Most importantly, Ajayi enjoyed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to revisit the various decisions of the courts relating to identify lapses in the electoral process and make necessary amendments based on identified issues. He therefore urges the politicians to conduct themselves within the ambit of the laws that governing election matters so that there will be less acrimony and bitterness against the judiciary for following the provisions of the law.
However, going by Barrister Ayoola Ajayi profiles which is outstanding and enviable. He is the founder of Ayoola Ajayi & Co Chambers, located at Kiki-Ofin House, directly opposite Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso Main Gate, along Ilorin road. This legal luminary of note is with over three decades of law practice experience with excellent performances. Ajayi is no doubt walking in the shoes of his mentor, Justice Atilade Ojo (Rtd.). Perhaps, seeing his mentor practicing when he was serving under him, first as a serving corps member in 1991 and later as partner, both at Messrs Atilade Ojo & Co Chambers, Renown Chemist Building, Oke-Ado, Ogbomoso inspired him a lot.
In fact, as a young boy, Ayoola Ajayi needed no soothsayer to lead him into the law profession, because is the profession he had been dreaming for ever before he started primary school. Arguable, Ajayi is one of the very few Nigerian lawyers who have distinguished themselves as men of honour both in the practice of law and in character. To all those who have been following the selfless and proactive impactful life of this brilliant lawyer, one will see that it has been rewarded and appreciated with too many awards, honours and recognition of excellence too numerous to list. As at my last count, apart from those he rejected, I have counted well over five hundreds received since he was in secondary school. Permit me to list some of the major ones here for record purposes: Senior Prefect Boy, Oluyole Estate Grammar School, Ibadan (1983-1984), President Current Affairs Society Oluyole Estate Grammar School, Ibadan, Speaker Students Representative Council, Oluyole Estate Grammar School, Chairman Literary and Debating Society, Oluyole Estate Grammar School, Nigerian Association of Law Students (NALS) National Delegate (1986-1987), Nigerian Association of Law Students(NALS) Financial Secretary(1986-1987), Chief Gani Fawehinmi Scholarship Award (1991), Federation of Ogbomoso Students Union (FOGSU) National Secretariat Legal Adviser and Merit Award (1995), and FOGSU Kwara State Polytechnic Chapter, Merit Award (1996). Other are : LAUTECH Students Union Government, Legal Adviser(1994-1996), LAUTECH Students Union Government, Human Rights Protection Award(1996), LAUTECH Students Union Government, Legal Luminary Award (2004-2005), Legal Adviser to the League of Gentlemen LAUTECH Ogbomoso, Adjunct Lecturer in Law Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Legal Retainer Ogbomoso South LG, Arowomole, Ogbomoso (1997- to date), Legal Retainer Federal School of Surveying Oyo (1998 to date ), Treasurer/Financial Secretary Nigeria Bar Association, Ogbomoso (2008-2010), Delegate NBA Executive Conference Abuja (2008), Delegate NBA Executive Council Member (NEC) representative (2008), Chairman Nigerian Bar Association Ogbomoso branch (2010-2011), Legal Retainer Oriire LG, Ikoyi-Ile (2014-2015), NBA Prosecutor at the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) Abuja (2015-2017), Member Judicial Service Commission Oyo State (2017-2019), Chairman NBA Ogbomoso branch Disciplinary Committee, etc.
Reputed as arguably Nigerian’s foremost litigation lawyer, Ayoola Ajayi has been involved in many landmark and highly sensitive political and chieftaincy cases in the three categories of courts in the country – High Court, Appeal Court and the Supreme Court. As a result of this, I feel strongly that the rationale for the prestigious award of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is justified on Lawyer Ayoola Ajayi. The Legal Practitioners Committee for the award of SANship in the country should therefore consider Lawyer Ayoola Ajayi for the next SAN award. Because his brilliance, eloquence, dexterity and gravitas have meritoriously qualified him for the award. In addition, he is the advocate with requisite character, integrity, work ethic and whose accomplishments and the contributions to the legal profession and, indeed Nigeria have earned him seat in the ‘Inner Bar.
However, beyond the legal field, Barrister Ayoola Ajayi is a well-known farmer: he engaging in livestock and crop farming in a mechanized system. This also in one way or the other add value to the Nigerian economy. It is on this note, I joined thousands of people to congratulate Barrister Ayoola Ajayi with the recognition given to him by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyo branch.
SUNDAY OGUNKUADE
08036142877
