- He Was Former OYO CJ & Solicitor-General
Its 6 years since Honourable Justice Timothy Adebayo Adediran Ayorinde passed on. In his lifetime, he was a respected jurist. He was a former Chief Judge of Oyo State and also Solicitor General. Lets tell you a little about him. Highly principled, late Justice T.A.A. Ayorinde was born on the 4th of June, 1932 at Ajimajasan Compound Agbokojo, lbadan, Oyo State, a place within 500 meters from this great Cathedral. He was a direct descendant of Olabieyin Ajimajasan who was a Prince of Oyo-Ile and who joined other Oyo warriors to repel the Fulani invaders. Olabieyin had 2 daughters and a son who was named, Ayorinde and who became Mogaji Ajimajasan.
Mogaji Ajimajasan had 8 children including Lawani Akangbe Ogundiran Ayorinde who was the father of Late Justice Timothy Adebayo Adediran Ayorinde. His mother was Late Madam Okunlola Alake from Ile Koro-Modi, lsale-Ijebu in Ibadan. She was the daughter of Odunaro Amunigun from Amunigun Area also of Ibadan.
Although Adebayo was born into a Muslim family, his early contact with Christian influences would change and shape the rest of his life. He attended St. James School Ogunpa, an Anglican Christian Primary School from 1939-1946 but he was still obliged to attend koranic School every afternoon between 2.00pm and 5.00pm. He also never missed Sunday school which he attended on Sunday mornings. Therefore by the time he was 1000ars old, not only was he well versed in the Koran, he had mastered by heart the commandments of God in Exodus Chapter 20 verses 3-17 and what was forbidden by God in Deuteronomy Chapter 27 verses 15- 26.
In 1947 Adebayo Ayorinde was admitted into the prestigious Ibadan Grammar School which was then essentially a Christian Anglican Secondary School It was at IGS that young Adebayo continued his conversion to Christianity, a journey that would see him later in life become the Chancellor of the Anglican Church Ibadan Diocese for a period of about 2 decades before he voluntarily relinquished the position.
In 1952, after obtaining his School Certificate, Adebayo took up employment at the Chief Secretary’s Office In what was known as the Secretariat in Lagos. He was a clerical officer in the Civil Service Commission Registry of the office which was located in the brick buildings facing the Marina. While his office was on the ground floor, the legal Department was located on the top floor and young Adebayo’s romance with the legal Profession began.
In his book titled: Threat to the Rule of Law’ published in 1996 by Alke Books, Adebayo Ayorinde described this period of his life as follows:
‘I had the golden opportunity (work in the Chief Secretary’s office in the Secretariat, Lagos, immediately after leaving secondary school I was in the Civil Service Commission Registry of the office, in the brick buildings facing Manna, Lagos, from January 1952 to August 1954. The Civil Service Commission Registry was on the ground floor.
Immediately above the registry was the Legal Department in which were inspiring and admirable gentlemen like Mr. Atanda Fatayi-Williams (as he (hen was). He later became the Chief Justice of Nigeria. He was then a crown counsel, There was also Mr. Charles Olusoji Madarikan (as he then was). He was also a crown counsel. He was an adroit prosecutor. He prosecuted the celebrated Apalara murder case. That was the case where some cult men were tried and convicted for the murder of one Apalara a Muslim preacher. See Ogundipe & Ors. V. The Queen 14 WACA 458.1 met Mr. Madarlkan again as my Drectorof Public Prosecutions in the defunct Western Region of Nigeria In 1959. He later became a Justice of the Supreme Court and President of the Court of Appeal, Western Region.
I remember also Mr. Tajudeen Oki who also became Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Region of Nigeria in 1964. Chief Oki was later appointed the Honourable Attorney-General of Lagos State. He is at present one of the most Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and also a legal practitioner In Lagos. There were also many of them in the old legal Department It will be prudent to mention a few of them for want of space. They were strict men but of pleasant manners. We used to see them going to Courts in the mornings in their black jackets on top of their trousline trousers. Under the black jackets were their sparkling white shirts and sparkling white bibs dancing to the breeze from the lagoon stretching along the Marina:
With a determination to become a lawyer, Adebayo returned to Ibadan in 1954 to work with the Ibadan District Council The Secretary of IDC at that time was late Chief V.O Esan whom Adebayo described in his said book as a good example of a lawyer who believed in the Rule of Law and his God
The said Chief Esan was the Ist Chancellor 01 the Anglican Communion Ibadan Diocese, a position later occupied by Adebayo Ayorinde himself.
In 1955 he proceeded to the United Kingdom and was admitted into the Kennington College of Commerce and Law in South East London for the Intermediate Bachelor of Laws Examination of the University of London. Upon arrival in London, he was met by late Chief Bolarinwa who was then a law student and who later retired as a Chief
Magistrate in Oyo State. Chief Bolarinwa had been informed of Adebayo’s arrival by Chief Y.O. Esan. Both fate Chief Bolarinwa and one other Chief Akinbode (also late) saw to it that Adebayo and his 2 other new arrivals were well accommodated.
These other 2 new arrivals were Alhaji RA Sarumi (of blessed memory) who was a very respected Senior lawyer in Ibadan and late Hon. Justice Yekini Adio who was a Justice of the Supreme Court. Adebayo Ayorinde was also particularly looked after by Late Chief S.O Moroundiya, who had also earlier arrived in England, and who returned to Nigeria in 1957, to become a very successful lawyer in Lagos between 1956 and 1959, Adebayo Ayorlnde studied at the famous London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), college of the University of London for his final exams for the Bachelor of Laws Degree in 1958 but had to wait till 1959 to fulfill the university regulation of being in the university for 3 academic sessions before the conferment of a first degree. It was also during this period that his conversion to full Christianity took place, and he was baptized and confirmed at St. Pancras Parish Church, on the Euston Road, London.
On the 24th November, 1959, Timothy Adebayo Ayorinde was called to the English Bar by the Middle Temple Society. He immediately returned to Nigeria, arriving in Lagos on 9th December, 1959. He was determined to join any of the thriving law practices but was advised and persuaded by Late Venerable Alayande his teacher at Ibadan Grammar and a friend of his father to join the Ministry of Justice on the 15th December, 1959, Adebayo Ayorinde began his career at the Ministry of Justice of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria as the youngest crown counsel at the time. He describes his entry and sojourn in the Ministry in his book” Threat to the Rule of Law’ at pages 15 and 16:
“I returned to Nigeria on 9 December 1959. On 15 December 1959, I joined the Ministry of Justice of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria as the youngest crown counsel. Incidentally, I met in the Ministry of Justice Mr. Charles Madarikan (as he then was) as my Director of Public Prosecutions before he became a Judge{)f the High Court of Justice of the Region in 1960.There was-also Dr. FA Alayi, who was Secretary, Law Revision Commission in the Ministry at the time. He was one of my tutorial tutors at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chief ERA. Williams the Attorney General and Minister of Justice as well as of Local Government was on his way out, to return to private legal practice. I was happy to learn later that Chief Williams took part in decision to appoint me and my other young colleagues as crown counsel in the Ministry:
The City of Ibadan was the headquarters of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria, Western State of Nigeria the bigger Oyo State of Nigeria as it is of the present Oyo State of Nigeria.
The Ministry of Justice of the Western Region of the Western State as of the bigger Oyo State had also its headquarters in Ibadan as it has now. From Ibadan, we used, as Crown Counsel, State Counsel, Senior State Counsel etc to appear on behalf each of the Governments of the Region and/or States accordingly in Courts in Ikeja, Abeokuta, Ijebu Ode, Ibadan, Oyo, Osogbo, llesa, Akure Owo, Benin-City, Warri, Sapele, Asaba, Auchi etc. I grew up as the youngest crown counsel in 1959 to the highest post of Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice of the bigger Oyo State in 1977 before I was appointed a Judge of the High Council of Justice of the State on I December 1 977. There was indeed a concerted period of incubation”.
Justice Ayorinde served on the High Court bench of old Oyo and new Oyo State from December 1977 till 4th June 1997 when he retired on reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 years. As a judge of the High Court he delivered so many judgements and most were upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. He built up and sustained a reputation as a courageous and fearless Judge. He took this job very seriously and from his book under reference we can have an insight as to his disposition towards the judicial functions of a Judge. He said at page 19 ‘On being sworn in, I wrote to preserve, protect and defend the constitution. I swore also to apply the laws and usage of this country.
A Judge In the performance of his judicial functions does not have the freedom to act capriciously as he likes, but judiciously and judicially as a fair and just minded person In a business like manner and according to settled practices and procedures entrenched in the Rules of his Court, the applicable laws statutory or Judge made or proven customs] and relevant provisions of the constitution of his country. See The Queen V. The Minister of Education Ex Parte Augustus Adeyeri (1964) WNLR 27 at 31 to 32. Courts can, however, waive Rules, not laws, not a provision of the constitution so as not to allow technicality to defeat the cause of Justice, See Williams V. Hope Rising Voluntary Society(1982)1-2S.C 145 at 154″.
On 23rd December 1991, Justice Ayorinde was appointed Chief Judge of Oyo State some of his judgements are reported and referred to in Local and International Law Reports and journals. His book ‘THREAT TO THE RULE OF LAW” is listed and can be found in the American Congress library in Washington D.C He was as a Judge and Chief Judge uncompromising even at the great risk and threat to his job and well being by persons who deliberately misunderstood his candour and forthrightness.
A further insight into his mind is to be found on page 84 of his book where he admonished that “The standards of behavior required by the law should always be upheld by the Courts. Judges are supposed to be custodians of these standards. Judges must not abdicate their duties In order to be good jolly fellows at eating and drinking gatherings or at any other place. r was amused a few years ago when I was told I was not sociable and would always be in trouble with the politicians.
I believe a good judge should keep away from socializing with any persons but with very few persons of his social standing and orientation. We must show our fellowmen by our decisions and behaviours how LO behave according to law to achieve peace, order and good government This is how judges can get over their trials successfully and be seen to be discharged and acquitted by civilized people”.
As a family man he took special care of his immediate and extended family. He was married to his dear wife Christiana Adetokunbo Amole in 1961, he fondly called her “Toks” and they remained inseparable until his death.
They were a model couple and it was nearly impossible to see one without the other. They are blessed with 6 children; Bolaji [a Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria]. Bimbo (a Lawyer and New York based Attorney], Bolanle (a Lawyer and Training Consultant), Adebola Ian Engineer and Senior Manager With EdIson California!, Oyeboia (Medical Doctor) and Mobolade (An Advertising Consultant) They are also blessed with many grand children all of whom had a special relationship with their late granddaddy.
Hon Justice Ayorinde engaged himself very deeply in Christian spiritual activities whether it be under the auspices of the Christian Association of Nigeria, several fellowship groups and the Anglican Church where he served as Chancellor for 12years under the Rt. Reverend G.I.O Olaide. On 28th March 2011, the Timothy Ayorinde Anglican Church of Ajimajasan Bode lgbo Area which he built and handed over to the Diocese of Ibadan South Anglican Communion, was dedicated by Rt. Rev JA Ajetunmobi, Bishop of Ibadan South.
Baa-ba-mi-o as he was fondly called by his family lived a fulfilled and happy life. He was blessed by his God. He was very fond of dancing In Church and other Christian events. He spent his energy and resources in promoting the work of the Church throughout his life time having accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour. He has, left a legacy to be proud of and a solid pedigree for the generations coming after him. Honourable Justice Timothy Adebayo Adediran Ayorinde, this is your life and may your gentle soul rest In perfect peace. Amen.
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