President Muhammadu Buhari has joined Nigerians to mourn human rights activist, feisty lawyer and a strong partner with the Nigerian media Fred Agbaje who died in London on Saturday after a protracted illness. Nature of illness was not disclosed by his family but the popular human rights lawyer who was systemically frustrated from becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has been battling with an undisclosed ailment. The social media has been buzzing with tributes to the late Agbaje.
Buhari’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement described the deceased as an erudite human rights lawyer. He commiserated with the family, friends and professional colleagues of the departed, describing him as “an ardent advocate against corruption and canvasser for internal democracy in political parties, who also believed strongly in the sanctity of the ballot box.”
Buhari commended his fearlessness and boldness saying that a cleansing of the judiciary and standing up for Agbaje’s beliefs as he fought for the rights of the less-privileged in the society was a fitting honour the society and especially lawyers can pay to him.
Other tributes came from both lawyers and non-lawyers especially journalists who have partnered with Agbaje in the crusade against the abuse of human rights.
Mr. Joseph Otteh, Executive Secretary of Access to Justice, described Agbaje as a legal icon who contributed a lot to the Nigerian legal profession especially its jurisprudence. “It is a sad news and honestly I am saddened. Fred Agbaje was an icon and he was such a generous man. He was a pleasure to work with. He contributed immensely to the Nigerian legal profession and he will be surely missed. He came, fought his battles and I believe he came, fought his battles and won. I pray that his soul rests in peace.”
Barr Monday Ubani, the 2nd Vice president of the NBA, described Agbaje’s death is a great loss to the legal profession. “We have been hearing that he was sick and that he travelled abroad for treatment, but we were shocked today when we heard about his death. ”
Another human rights lawyer, Ebun Olu Adegboruwa, said: “Fred Agbaje was an astute and forthright lawyer. I have had cause to work with him in cases even up to the Supreme Sourt and I can tell you that he was a very honest and down to earth person. He was shortlisted for the Senior Advocate of Nigeria several times but he was never picked. He told me that he would never lobby anybody or go through the backdoor to get the title. His death would be felt in the judiciary. The void his death has caused I believe can never be filled. I believe the NBA would work with his family to give him a befitting burial,” Adegboruwa said.
