Lawyer and human rights activist, Adenike Akerele, speaks with TOFARATI IGE on the highlights of her career
Lawyer and human rights activist, Adenike Akerele, speaks with TOFARATI IGE on the highlights of her career
What memorable experiences can you recall from your childhood?
I was born and raised in Ayede Ekiti,
Ekiti State, and I remember that I was an exceptional student in school.
I had the best result in my primary school but my father did not
believe in educating girls. He told me to go and learn tailoring from
one of the local seamstresses in the town at that time. But I refused to
do that; I rather stayed at home and was helping my mother in hawking
and doing other things. Then, one day, one of my primary school teachers
saw me and asked me why I wasn’t in school. The teacher followed me
home and prostrated for my mother. He told her that even if she had to
sell all her clothes to fund my education to send me to school, she
should do it. And in those days, people respected teachers, so that was
how I was enrolled at Ayede Grammar School. Upon graduation from
secondary school, I went to the Federal School of Arts and Science in
Victoria Island, Lagos. After that, I proceeded to the University of
Lagos, where I studied Law. One of the most memorable and painful
experiences I can recall was the death of my mother shortly after my
secondary school education. She basically poured out her life to make
her children successful. All her children are female and she made us
understand that the fact that we are girls should not limit us in
becoming whatever we wanted.
What prompted you to study Law?
While I was in secondary school, one of
my uncles, who was a professor of Law at the University of Lagos, came
visiting. He said that I dressed smartly and talked intelligently, that I
would make a good lawyer. From that day, I had it in mind that I wanted
to become a lawyer.
It is believed that the standard of education has fallen in Nigeria. How would you assess the quality of education you had?
I attended the University of Lagos,
which was regarded as one of the best schools in those days. Almost all
the courses were handled by professors, and we had other lecturers, like
Prof. Osipitan, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (now Vice President), among others,
who were taking us tutorials. During my time at UNILAG, there was no
strike, and I graduated at the normal time.
How would you describe Prof. Osinbajo as a lecturer?
He was a very brilliant man and all the
students wanted to be in his class. Though I wasn’t initially in his
class, I had to smuggle myself in to benefit from his teachings. He was
very accommodating and a good teacher. We knew he was going places. He
really influenced us positively.
What aspect of law do you specialise in?
I do a lot of commercial and property law. I also engage in public law because I hate seeing people being oppressed.
Where was the first place you worked as a lawyer?
When I completed my youth service, I
moved to Lagos, where I joined the firm of the professor who triggered
my interest in law, Olaide Adigun & Co. I rose to become the head of
chamber there before I left to start my own practice, Adenike Akerele
& Co. in 1991.
What was the first brief you got after you started your practice?
Prior to starting my practice, I was
earning N500 per month. But the first brief I got was to prepare a will,
and it didn’t take me more than three days to conclude it. I remember
that I was paid N55,000 for that job.
You were once the treasurer
of the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association. What are some of
the highlights of your time as an NBA executive?
The Ikeja branch of the NBA was the most
active branch during the military era. One of the strategies of the
military was to incapacitate the NBA, which is a professional body that
stands for justice. The military penetrated the association and it got
so bad that they had lawyers on their payroll who reported all our
activities and decisions to them. That’s why many members of the NBA
were always in detention because anybody could be picked up by the
military at any time. However, I was very active and bold. Even if a
person was holding a gun, I wasn’t afraid to speak my mind. When M. K.
O. Abiola was arrested in 1994, I moved the motion that the NBA should
represent him at the trial. Even though he was a rich man, I felt the
issue at stake was more about fighting for the human rights of a man who
was freely elected by Nigerians, and was denied his mandate. Some
people rose up against the motion, saying Abiola was rich enough and
could afford to pay for his legal representation. At the end of the day,
we cast votes and it was decided that the NBA should be involved in
Abiola’s defence.
What was your experience during the Abiola trial?
We went there every time he was brought
to court and we were supporting G. O. K. Ajayi, who was the main defence
counsel that was employed by Abiola’s family. We were usually harassed
by soldiers anytime we appeared in court. At a point, the Nigerian
Medical Association wrote to the judge handling the case that Abiola was
no longer fit to stand trial because of his poor state of health. He
had an injury in his leg and was dragging his feet at that time. Based
on that, Femi Falana moved a motion for his bail on medical grounds. But
it was refused. Meanwhile, the right to life is respected under any
charter anywhere in the world, but it seemed the military junta had
already made up their minds to get rid of the man.
Did you have personal interactions with Abiola during the trial?
I had the opportunity of meeting Abiola
one-on-one, and I saw a very brilliant and intelligent man. I believe
that Nigeria lost something good in Abiola. Not only was he brilliant,
he was very appreciative. He knew we (NBA) were not being paid for
representing him and he used to thank everyone of us individually for
coming to his defence. He always told me that he appreciated the fact
that I left my children at home and came all the way to Abuja because of
him. He did not look down on anybody. But the experience that stands
out for me was the last day he was brought to court in our presence. At
that time, the injury in his leg had gotten very bad. Then, whenever the
court was on recess, he would have personal interactions with his
wives. On that particular day, I was going out of the courtroom as he
was coming in, and it struck my mind that that could be the last time I
would ever see him. Immediately, my countenance changed and he asked me
if I was okay. I told him I was and I left the court; but my mind was
troubled, and I had to turn back to have an audience with him. At that
time, he was already in the dock; so, I took a small pocket Bible to him
there. I told him that I was sorry I never discussed life after death
with him prior to that time, and that I just wanted to give him the
Bible which would be of great use to him in prison. After I said that,
he put his hands into his pocket, brought out the same type of Bible I
had given him, and he said, “Mrs. Akerele, I have seen the light.” That
was my last discussion with him, and it also happened to be my most
memorable day of the trial.
What was the lowest point for you during that era?
That was when Abiola’s wife, Kudirat,
was assassinated. I never knew that they could be so barbaric to kill a
woman. For about three days after her death, I couldn’t eat. I was
disillusioned.
You are also a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Ireland. How did that come about?
I still practise actively in Ireland,
and I have a registered firm there. At a point, my children relocated to
Dublin for their education when they were in their teenage years and my
husband wanted me to go there with them. It was one of the most
difficult decisions I ever took in my life. At that time, I believed I
was at the pinnacle of my career in Nigeria. In fact, I became depressed
when I got to Ireland. I didn’t know how to do anything other than law,
so I approached the law society in Ireland to be registered as a
solicitor. But they told me that they didn’t have reciprocal
relationship with the Nigerian Bar Association, so, I couldn’t be
registered. At that point, I was so frustrated. I set up a parish of the
Redeemed Christian Church of God, which was one of the church’s first
branches in Ireland. As I was doing that, a friend called and advised me
to take the bar exams in England. I followed her advice and within a
year, I was enrolled as a solicitor in England. Once I became qualified
in England, I returned to Ireland to take some exams, and I was
registered there as well. I am the first Nigerian to be enrolled as a
solicitor in Ireland. Thereafter, I worked in an Irish law firm for
sometime before setting up my practice, Rehoboth Solicitors.
How would you compare legal practice in Ireland and Nigeria?
Law practice in Nigeria is very vibrant.
The major difference is in the area of supervision by the law society.
The law society in Ireland plays a strictly supervisory role. Lawyers
cannot afford to mess around over there because their activities are
always monitored. Everything is documented, and you have to let the
client know everything you want to do even before you formally accept
the brief. Over there, a lawyer can easily lose her certificate for
misconduct and breach of professional ethics. Because of that, lawyers
there are more proactive and the integrity of the profession is
maintained. Lawyers also have to sit exams every year for their
certificates to be renewed yearly.
What are some of the qualities that have helped you thus far in your career?
I get along with people easily, and I
don’t look down on anybody. I also genuinely love to help people. I have
learnt never to give up, so I always pursue my goals with all that I
have.
How are you able maintain balance between your career and family?
With God, everything is possible. I have
the cooperation of my family in everything that I do. Two of my
children are lawyers, while the other one is a medical doctor. I always
carry them along in all I do. When my children were growing up, I
devoted a lot of time to them and I used to monitor their school work.
What role has your husband played in your career?
He has always been supportive and he believes so much in me. He encourages me and he tells me that I can do it.
How do you unwind?
I read and I enjoy playing with my grandchildren whenever they are around. I also enjoy travelling.
How do you like to dress?
I’m not really into fashion. I just love to be comfortable.
Punch
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