GOK Ajayi

GOK Ajayi
Born (1931-05-21)May 21, 1931
Ogun State, Nigeria
Died March 31, 2014(2014-03-31) (aged 82)
Nationality Nigerian
Ethnicity Yoruba
Citizenship Nigerian
Occupation
  • lawyer
  • solicitor
  • judge

Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi, SAN (May 21, 1931 - March 31, 2014) popularly known by his initials GOK Ajayi was a prominent Nigerian Jurist.[1][2]

Early life

Ajayi was born on May 29, 1931 at Ijebu Ode, a city in Ogun State southwestern Nigeria.[3] He had his elementary education at Ijebu Ode Nursery School and St Saviours' School in Lagos state before he later attended CMS Grammar School where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1948.[4] He proceeded to the London School of Economics where he received a bachelor's degree in Law.[5]

Law career

Ajayi was called to the English Bar in 1955 and the Nigerian bar in 1957. He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1978, along with Chief Kehinde Sofola, Remi Fani-Kayode and Obafemi Awolowo, the national leader of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria.[6] He was the defunct UPN's lawyer and Awolowo's solicitor in the Awolowo v. Shagari case of September 26, 1979 in which Chief Obafemi Awolowo's petition challenged the declaration of Shehu Shagari as the winner of the August 11, 1979 presidential election.[7] Late Justice Kayode Eso, presided over the case.[8] He was also Moshood Abiola's solicitor in the case of annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.[9] Ajayi died on March 31, 2013 at the Intensive Care Unit of Reddington Hospital in Lagos State.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Leadership Newspaper (6 April 2014). "Gok Ajayi, 1931-2014: A Progressive Lawyer". Nigerian News from Leadership News. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Adebisi Onanuga, Eric Ikhilae (Abuja) and Precious Igbonwelundu. "Legal giant GOK Ajayi dies at 82". The Nation. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "GOK Ajayi goes home amidst eulogies, tributes". The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  4. ↑ Our Correspondent. "New Telegraph – GOK Ajayi: Falana, Osipitan, others mourn". newtelegraphonline.com. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  5. ↑ Lanre Adewole, Bola Badmus, Ayomide Owonibi and Matthew Asabor - Lagos. "GOK Ajayi dies at 83". tribune.com.ng. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "GOK Ajayi Passes On at 83, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "Excerpt from Eso’s dissenting judgment in Awolowo v Shagari case". The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Justice Kayode Eso dies at 87". Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  9. ↑ http://saharareporters.com/2014/03/30/abiola’s-lawyer-gok-ajayi-dead
  10. ↑ "GOK Ajayi dies @ 82 as eminent Nigerians mourn". Vanguard News. Retrieved 26 April 2015.


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