Adegbite, an erudite constitutional lawyer who hails from Igbore in
Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, was said to have breathed his last
yesterday evening in a Lagos hospital after battling with an undisclosed
illness for few months back.
Before his death, Adegbite, a
former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the
defunct Western State, was the Seriki and the Baba Adinni of Egbaland.
Sources close to the family told Saturday Sun that Adegbite had been to
London, Canada seeking medical treatment for an undisclosed ailment,
which eventually claimed his life. His death, ironically coincided with
two other prominent sons of Egbaland, Chief Segun Taiwo, a kingmaker and
Action Congress of Nigeria chieftain and the business mogul and
renowned banker, Chief Oluwole Adeosun, who were both buried yesterday
in Abeokuta, the state capital.
In a condolence statement
released late yesterday and signed by his Senior Special Assistant
media, Mrs. Funmi Wakama, Governor Amosun, described the late Seriki of
Egbaland as one of the icons the state has produced for Nigeria.
According to him, Adegbite, in his lifetime, shone like a star in the
field of law and was well known across the world as the mouthpiece of
Islam in Nigeria. He noted that the late Seriki was a man, who usually
offered wise counsel to governments at federal and state levels.
The
governor added that the demise of Adegbite is not just a loss to Ogun
State but also to Nigeria as a whole. While praying that almighty Allah
grants his soul Aljanah Fidaus, the governor commiserated with the
Adegbite family, people of Egbaland, the Muslim community and Nigerians
in general. “Baba Adegbite was a strong believer in one Nigeria and a
motivator of youths who always preached tolerance and peace at all
times,” he said. The National President of National Council of Muslim
Youths Organisation (NACOMYO), Alhaji Kamaldeen Akintunde, described
Adegbite as a distinguished Nigerian, promoter and defender of Islamic
and champion of inter-religious harmony.
Similarly, former
Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Sarafadeen Tunji Ishola
described Adegbite’s death as a big blow to the Egba as a people as
well as Ogun State and indeed Nigeria and the entire world. Sarafa, who
is the Baba Adinni of Ogun State, said his death came too soon after the
death of Sheikh Sodrudeen Bamidele Biobaku and added that the Muslim
community would miss him greatly. “It is a sad news, but we pray to
Allah to grant him Aljannat,” he said. Adegbite attended Methodist
School, Abeokuta.
He also attended Arabic School, before
proceeding to St. Paul’s Primary School in Igbore, Abeokuta in 1942,
when he was aged nine. He obtained a scholarship to attend King’s
College, Lagos, where he was co-founder and first national president of
the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, graduating in 1956. In 1959,
the Western Region Premier Chief Obafemi Awolowo awarded him a
scholarship to travel to England for a Law degree programme. While
abroad, he attended the University of Southampton, graduating with a
B.A. in Law in July 1962.
He thereafter studied at the College of
Law for Solicitors, Lancaster Gate in London, and then at Gray’s Inn
(1963–1965). Adegbite later won a Commonwealth scholarship for
post-graduate studies in England. Adegbite was Commissioner for Local
Governments and Chieftaincy Matters in the old Western Region of Nigeria
during the military administration of Brigadier Christopher Oluwole
Rotimi. He was then appointed Commissioner for Justice and Attorney
General of the Western Region in 1973.
In October 1976, he
founded the legal firm of Lateef Adegbite & Co as the Principal
Partner, with main office in Lagos and a branch office in Abeokuta,
specialising in Commercial and Corporate Law. Adegbite was president of
the Nigeria Olympic Committee from 1972 to 1985.
He was
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University
of Maiduguri from 1984 to 1990. He became a member of the Executive
Committee of the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was a
Director of Industrial and General Insurance Plc.
