Chief Justice, Governor Makinde, Legal Luminaries Pay Tribute to Late Justice Gbolagunte

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola; Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Senior Advocates of Nigeria, led by Chief Folake Solanke; lawyers; judges of various courts; and associates gathered on Monday at the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan to honor the late Justice Adegboye Ayinla Gbolagunte, who passed away on June 24, 2024, at the age of 64.

Justice Gbolagunte, who served in the Oyo State Judiciary, is survived by his widow, Wuraola Ayoola, and three children: Oladiran, Oladoyin, and Oladotun.

During the special valedictory court session, presided over by the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima, the CJN, represented by the presiding Judge of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, Justice Hamman Baka, praised the deceased for his exemplary qualities and the high regard in which he was held by colleagues and associates.

“We mourn the late Justice Gbolagunte and extend our condolences to his family. May God repose his soul,” Justice Baka said.

Governor Makinde, represented by the Oyo State Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Abiodun Aikomo, described Justice Gbolagunte as “a man dedicated to justice both within and outside the judiciary. His memory will continue to inspire many of us. It is not the length of time but the quality of it that defines a man. The Oyo State Ministry of Justice and the state as a whole will miss the late jurist”.

Chief Solanke, the first female SAN in Nigeria, paid glowing tributes to Justice Gbolagunte through her representative, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), describing him as a forthright and dedicated judge who was committed to his work until his passing.

Chairmen of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Saki branches also paid their respects. Ibrahim Lawal of the Ibadan branch highlighted Justice Gbolagunte’s scholarly contributions and his dedication to active service. He lamented the challenging conditions under which judges work, noting that the strain contributed to the late judge’s ill-health.

“Oyo State judges are overworked and overstretched, with only 20 judges doing the work meant for 40. Justice Gbolagunte’s passing reduces this number further to 19. I urge the Oyo State government to address this by appointing more qualified judges and ensuring adequate funding for a conducive work environment,” Lawal said.

Jide Olanipekun, Chairman of the Oyo branch, praised the late jurist for his steadfast dedication to justice, describing him as a man of hard work who successfully transitioned from journalism and teaching to law and judiciary.

Adesoji Oke of the Saki branch and Omotayo Olatubosun of the Ogbomoso branch also commended Justice Gbolagunte for his punctuality and dedication, noting that he always began court sessions promptly at 9 a.m.

Oladiran, Justice Gbolagunte’s eldest son, expressed gratitude on behalf of the family for the honor bestowed upon his father, hoping that such a loss does not occur again in the Oyo State Judiciary.

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