- Details Of His Open House Party In LAGOS
It was a cool and slightly sunny Saturday afternoon on Saturday, October 27th, 2018 when respected Lagos lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), Mr. Olayiwola Morounmubo Babatunde celebrated his 60th birthday at his Magodo residence in Lagos.
Although it was a very low key celebration, the event was classy and had a lot of lawyers in attendance. It was a galaxy of lawyers as many legal luminaries who are friends and close associates of the celebrant graced the occasion and had value for their time as everything that was needed for maximum entertainment of guests was in place.
KUNLE OMISHAKIN ANCHORS PROCEEDINGS
Kunle Omishakin, a journalist with ThisDay newspaper who also doubles as media aide to the celebrant was the most perfect man to handle the event that practically had elites and professionals from different walks of life as guests. His mode of operation beat many’s imagination as the guests were not bored. He was time conscious and yet gave room for fun and entertainment with different scheduled activities flowing well.
REV. SOLOMON AJIBADE TAKES OPENING PRAYER
Mr Layi Babatunde is a man of prayers, as was evident in the comments from his acquaintances. This was why his big day as expected started with God taking the top spot in the agenda. Reverend Solomon Ajibade of the New Baptist Church where the celebrant and his family worship was called forward to say the opening prayers and he did without prolonging matters.
CELEBRANT WELCOMES GUESTS
He is a simple man with a very large heart. Mr. Layi Babatunde was dressed in a very simple flowery designed shirt and trouser as he warmly walked up stage to welcome his distinguished guests, friends, gentlemen and ladies who sacrificed their Saturday to celebrate with him. His words were very concise. He welcomed all the dignitaries, most especially his learned colleagues by mentioning their names one after the other and then recognised the presence of the members of his church and the Bible Study team as well. He further told his guests to feel free and have fun. Some of the guests he identified included Adeyinka Olumide-Fasika SAN, Funke Ayobade SAN, Tunde Busari SAN, Chuka Agbu, SAN and wife, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, Justice Gbolagunte and wife, Justice Abiodun Dabiri, just to mention a few.
SAX REPUBLIC
SERENADES GUESTS
Good music is often not determined by the volume of the sound, but by the quality and professionalism applied to the combination of such sounds. This was proven to be absolutely true as the Yomi Odugbile led Sax Republic Entertainment and Blessed Trinity Band serenaded the audience with cool highlife tunes, bringing back the good old days of King Sunny Ade and Commander Ebenezer Obey.
ADEJOKE TALKS ABOUT HUSBAND
Mrs Adejoke Babatunde is the beautiful wife of the celebrant. She introduced herself as “his girlfriend”. Dressed in a well designed gold plated green gown, Mrs Babatunde is a true definition of Beauty and Charm. Simple as she appeared, the smiles on her face while exchanging pleasantries with guests described her love for her husband and the joy they share for him to have reached such a milestone in his life. The first time she appeared on the podium, she was sighted with another friend of hers and one of her daughters dancing to the cool tunes oozing out from the Sax Republic Entertainment and Blessed Trinity Band.
She was later invited by the anchor of the day to share some of her experiences with her husband, which she joyfully did. She started in a romantic way by mentioning her husband’s name in full, talked about how they met at the law school in 1983, how she initially doubted giving in to his advances and how she would have regretted saying no to him today.
In her words, “one of the things I don’t normally tell him is what I want to say today. Thank God I said Yes to him, (laughs) He is more than a husband to me. He is my father, my brother, the father of my children. Layi is a caring man, he has the interest of those dare to him at heart. Initially, we didn’t plan to have this party,. We just wanted to visit our foundation as we always do whenever we have birthdays but I just thought about a week ago that he’s going to be 60 so we should make it memorable. So I called my fellow coup plotters and here we are today.
“My husband, I want to seize this opportunity to say a big thank you to you for being a good husband, brother, father, teacher, prayer partner, bible study teacher and many more things to us. I want to tell you again today that I love you and our children love you as well. May God continue to keep you for us, happy birthday darling.”
PHOTO DOCUMENTARY SESSION
This was one of the most important segments of the event. Pictures they say are worth more than a thousand words. This segment took guests down memory lane from where Mr Layi Babatunde SAN started from. It contained pictures of his childhood, down to his University days, how he started as a young lawyer, his wedding, the children, where he is now and other things he does. The photo documentary session also had audio analysis to explain what the photographs stood for.
SAX REPUBLIC THRILLS AGAIN
You can’t always have enough of good music when those behind it are masters at the game. The Sax Republic Entertainment and Blessed Trinity Band gave guests reasons to ask for more after their first display. The anchor called the band to entertain the guests again and they did just that with excellence. Their performance was a blend of highlife, jazz and contemporary r&b with hip hop. The band was impeccable with the way it carried both the Yoruba and non-Yoruba speaking guests along.
FRIENDS TALK
ABOUT MR LAYI BABATUNDE
It was time to appreciate the man for whom everyone was gathered and some of the guests seated didn’t mince words talking about the kind of person Mr Layi Babatunde SAN is to them. Many of the guests really had something nice to say about him not because he was present or because it was his birthday but because he had at a point in their lives played a very vital and unforgettable role. Time only permitted three people to explain their separate encounters with Mr Layi and their testimonies were simply awesome. Pastor Bola Olakunle, Mrs Kemi Ojo and Mr Idowu Obasa laid their minds bare about him.
PASTOR BOLA OLAKUNLE’S WORDS
“Mr Layi and I are both from Kwara state. He’s been of great legal support to my family since we met. Mr Layi has had three daughters when I realised that he was the only man in his house, so I offered him an advise, I told him to eat plenty onions, salt and garlic and just like magic, he had a son afterwards. Since then, he has been calling me doctor because my prescriptions worked perfectly. He is a jolly good fellow and I wish him the very best in life”.
MRS KEMI OJO’S WORDS
Mrs Kemi Ojo is a younger sister to Mr Layi and she emphasised that she has been a daughter to her big brother since around age 11 following the demise of their father. She said “I’ve been with my brother and daddy since I was a teenager at about eleven years of age when we lost our dad and since then, he has taken care of me like his own daughter. He taught me to be prudent, business minded and how to save money. He has paid every of my bill since then and he’s still paying till now. The impacts he has on my life and business cannot be over emphasised; my most memorable experience was when he walked me down the aisle as a father, I felt so blessed then and I’m still so blessed to have him as a brother and father, I love him so much and may God continue to keep him for us and prosper his ways the more. Happy birthday dear brother and father”, she concluded.
IDOWU OBASA
ON LAYI BABATUNDE
Mr Idowu Obasa is an Accountant and a businessman. He is a long time friend of Layi Babatunde. He had these few comments about his friend.
“Layi Babatunde apart from being a successful lawyer is also an activist. He was a core supporter of The News Magazine that stood against the tyrant and oppressive Abacha regime then. Those in government thought he was just a lawyer so they didn’t suspect him, while many of us were being arrested and jailed for treason; Layi was practising his law and giving us unflinching support.
He is a very humble personality; I always thought that he is many years older than me because of his humility and maturity. Layi is so worried that Nigeria has become a problem today, a problem that all of us must be devoted to solve before our children come to take over from us. Obasa should know. He was a founding director of The News.
JUSTICE ABIRU SUPERVISES CAKE CUTTING
Two gigantic cakes were paraded but the anchor and the man of the day focused on the one that appeared to be the major. A mighty looking one-step cake designed with black and gold colours has LB AT SIXTY boldly inscribed on it.
Justice Abiru supervised the cutting of the cake, he spelt the word LOVE before the cake Mr Layi and his beautiful wife cut the cake and then he was joined by his guests in the following order. Celebrant and all the Justices present, all SANs present, all Professors present, all Lawyers present, with the Solicitor General of Lagos, Mrs Funmilola Adesola Odunlami, with wife and children, with friends and other guests.
LAYI BABATUNDE JOINS CHIEF ADESINA & WIFE ON THE
DANCE FLOOR
Party time is always dance time and Mr Layi Babatunde SAN enjoyed himself to the fullest as he joined some of his guests in the floor. The presence of Chief Adesina and his wife was noticeable on the dance floor; Mr Layi had at this time changed his outfit to a party like attire and he was seen digging it deep down with his guests. He was later joined by his wife, children and other guests too.
Vendors
Choppies Outdoor Catering Services catered for the meal and their service delivery was exceptional. Guests first had goat pepper soup with bread rolls as the first course; it served as appetiser before the main meal was served.
The main meal was a combination of Chinese and Nigerian cuisines and guests had options from the varieties available. On the Chinese menu there was Chinese braised rice, Basmati white rice, Singaporean Noodles, Shredded beef in green peppered sauce, Shredded chicken in wine sauce, and fish in sweet and sour sauce.
The Nigerian menu list had Choppies jollof rice/fried rice, Pounded yam with efo riro, Amala on point, Plantain ( dodo kelewele), Yam pottage (Asaro elede), Ofada rice with stew in leaves, Chicken in sauce, Fresh fish in sauce, Assorted beef in sauce, Moi-Moi, Vegetable salad and Ewa Agoin with Garri Ijebu to top it.
Linkolin Small Chops also provided well garnished and rich small chops for all the guests while Drinkstop Cocktails served chilled cocktails and other drinks for guests.
ROLL CALL
The Solicitor General of Lagos, Mrs Funmilola Adesola Odunlami, Adeyinka Olumide-Fasika (SAN), Funke Ayobade SAN, Tunde Busari (SAN), Chuka Agbu, (SAN) and wife, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, Justice Gbolagunte and wife, Justice Abiodun Dabiri, Rev Solomon Ajibade, Deacon & Mrs Ojinta. Deaconess Funmi Olukogbon, Deacon George Kudaya, Deacon and Mrs Obalade, Deacon Balogun, Deacon Oke Deacon Makinde Agbede.
Also present was Mr Ademola Adegbamigbe, Editor The News Magazine, Justice Abiodun Dabiri, Mr Olumide Fasika, Mr and Mrs Ajalogun, Barrister Ajayi, Mrs Mabel Harris, Mr and Mrs Pat Enebeli, Mrs Amah Feyimiwo, Mr Andrew Atemie, Mr Gozie Nwokeocha.
Others are: Mr Idowu Obasa, Dr Muiz Banire SAN, Pastor Bola Olakunle, Mrs Kemi Ojo and husband, Prof M.T Abdulrasaq, Mr Wale Taiwo SAN, Mr Olusola Idowu SAN, Alhaji Lawal Pedro SAN, Chief Dele Adesina and wife, Alhaji Hassan Yusuf SAN.
–DAMILARE SALAMI
08155134152
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