GOK Ajayi

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]

GOK Ajayi
Born(1931-05-29)May 29, 1931
Ogun State, Nigeria
DiedMarch 28, 2014(2014-03-28) (aged 82)
NationalityNigerian
CitizenshipNigerian
Occupation
  • lawyer
  • solicitor
  • judge

Early life

Ajayi was born on May 29, 1931, at Ijebu Ode, a city in Ogun State southwestern Nigeria.[2] He had his elementary education at Ijebu Ode Nursery School and St Saviours' School in Lagos state before he attended CMS Grammar School where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1948.[3] He went to the London School of Economics where he received a bachelor's degree in law.[4]

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.[5]

He was the lawyer of the now-defunct Unity Party of Nigeria and Awolowo's solicitor in the Awolowo v. Shagari case on 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.[6] The late Justice Kayode Eso,presided over the case.[7]

He was also Moshood Abiola's solicitor in the case of annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.[8]

Ajayi died on March 31, 2013, in the intensive care unit of Reddington Hospital in Lagos State.[9]

His nephews include the actor O. T. Fagbenle, the film producer Luti Fagbenle and the music video producer Oladapo Fagbenle. A niece is the basketball player Temi Fagbenle.[10]

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References
  1. "Gok Ajayi, 1931-2014: A Progressive Lawyer". Leadership. 6 April 2014. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
    - "Legal giant GOK Ajayi dies at 82". The Nation. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  2. Samuel Awoyinfa (31 May 2014). "GOK Ajayi goes home amidst eulogies, tributes". The Punch. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  3. "GOK Ajayi: Falana, Osipitan, others mourn". New Telegraph. 31 March 2014. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  4. Lanre Adewole; Bola Badmus; Ayomide Owonibi; Matthew Asabor (31 March 2014). "GOK Ajayi dies at 83". Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  5. Davidson Iriekpen and Tobi Soniyi (31 March 2014). "GOK Ajayi Passes On at 83". This Day Live. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  6. "Excerpt from Eso's dissenting judgment in Awolowo v Shagari case". The Punch. Archived from the original on 3 March 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  7. Adedeji Adams, Ajibola Abayomi, Sola Shittu, Gbenga Faturoti, Oladele Ogunsola (17 November 2012). "Justice Kayode Eso dies at 87". Daily Independent. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2015.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. "Abiola’s Lawyer, GOK Ajayi, Dead", Sahara Reporters, 30 March 2014
  9. Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe. "GOK Ajayi dies @ 82 as eminent Nigerians mourn". Vanguard News. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  10. "Celebrated Columnist, Tunde Fagbenle loses son", PM News, 22 May 2018
    - "Celebrated Columnist, Tunde Fagbenle loses son", WNBA


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