LAGOS – Some lawyers in Lagos on Thursday described the death of Chief John Jegede, the fifth Director-General of the Nigerian Law School (NLS), as a loss to the legal profession.
The lawyers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the death of the legal icon had created a vacuum which would be difficult to replace in the profession.
Jegede, left the NLS on Sept. 20, 2004 and died on April 9 in Abuja at the age of 77.
Jegede transferred his service at the University of Lagos as Deputy Registrar (Legal Services and Administration) in May 1980 to assume the office of the Secretary, Council of Legal Education.
He occupied the office for about 13 years, from December 1993, when late Chief Babatunde Ibironke, retired from the school as its director-general.
The deceased was appointed NLS director-general on March 6, 1995 and held the position for nine years.
It was under his tenure that the three more campuses in Lagos, Enugu and Kano were created.
A life bencher, Mr Tunji Gomez, described Jegede as a veteran in the field of law, who had great passion for legal studies.
He said the deceased tenure as director-general was characterised by discipline and hard work.
“As far as knowledge of the law was concerned, I must admit that Chief J.K Jegede SAN, was one of the best,’’ he said.
Gomez, therefore, urged members of the deceased family to emulate the good legacies left behind by the legal icon.
The Chairman of the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Alex Muoka, described Jegede as a fine legal practitioner.
“I met late Chief J. K Jegede, during my year in the law school in 1990/9.
“I remember him as a competent man who was very effective in discharging his duties even as Secretary of the Council of Legal Education.
“As director-general of the Law School, he put his many years of service to great use. He was a quiet and dignified gentleman who showed exemplary qualities to his students,’’Muoka said.
According to him, Jegede will be greatly missed for his contributions to legal education.
Another lawyer, Mr Taiwo Taiwo, described Jegede as a decent and knowledgeable fellow, who left good legacy not just as lecturer of the NLS, but as one of its director-general.
Taiwo, a former NBA Chairman in Lagos, said “he tutored so many of us in the discipline of law and we appreciate that fact.
“However, death is a price we mortals have to pay, and so, I wish his beloved family the fortitude to bear such irreplaceable loss,’’ he said.
The NBA Chairman in Ikeja, Mr Onyekachi Ubani, said the death of Jegede was another “huge blow’’ to the legal profession, after the demise of late G.O.K Ajayi SAN.
He described Jegede as an erudite legal practitioner, a man of integrity, and a pillar in the field of law.
According to him, jegede maintained a great standard in the NLS and left a good legacy in the legal profession for which he will be remembered.
“One thing is most important in our existence and that is the legacy we leave behind.
“Late jegede will be celebrated dearly for his input in legal studies and the discipline he instilled in his students.
“I knew him as director-general of the NLS. He came, he saw, and he conquered. We will greatly miss him,’’ he said.
He, therefore, urged family as well as the national and states NBA to be consoled by the exemplary qualities exhibited by the deceased. (NAN)
