Late Ogunbanjo left behind difficult vacuum to fill – Obasanjo

By Abiodun Lawal

Abeokuta, Oct. 9, 2023

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says the late Christopher Ogunbanjo is an exceptional legal luminary who left behind in the country a vacuum that will be difficult to fill.

Kehinde Akinyemi, the Special Assistant on Media to the former President, in a statement on Monday in Abeokuta, said Obasanjo described the legal icon as an outstanding Nigerian corporate lawyer.

“On behalf of my family and on my own behalf, I commiserate with the entire members of the Ogunbanjo family, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and the entire people of Ijebu land and by extension of Ogun.

“Ogunbanjo, who was one of the prominent and great sons of Africa, was a successful captain of industry, philanthropist and exceptionally-excellent legal luminary, who I can safely call an outstanding Nigerian corporate lawyer.

“Only a few days ago, I remembered him at a discussion and the only thing that was coming to memory was: “the corporate lawyer” “the corporate lawyer”.

”Yes, he was distinguished and truly deserving of that appellation,” Obasanjo said.

He explained that Ogunbanjo in his professional life, as a legal guru in the early 1960s, was “among the group of businessmen who supported local equity participation in foreign firms operating in Nigeria.”

Obasanjo added that Ogunbanjo was an early advocate of domiciliary accounts in Nigeria which later came to existence through the promulgation of the Foreign Currency Decree 18 of 1985.

“In all respects, he was a titan and a brilliant attorney. A good man, an inspiring leader and a remarkable statesman and nationalist whose intellect, integrity, hard work and vision impacted significantly on the legal profession.

“His zeal and resourcefulness was without deference to his noble background.

“He brought prodigious energy to bear in whatever he did and it was not surprising that he became a well-established lawyer and an astute businessman of note.

“Chief Ogunbanjo’s name will live forever in the minds and hearts of those who experienced his warmth, generosity and guidance,” he said.

Obasanjo explained further that Ogunbanjo’s underlying commitment to education and his quiet philanthropic activities which culminated in his establishment of Chris Ogunbanjo Foundation could not be over-emphasised.

“I pray that the Almighty will grant him sweet repose and his family members the strength to bear the heavy and irreparable loss,” he added.