Pomp and ceremony as Bola Aidi and Adamson Adeboro stepped in the saddle as Senior Advocates of Nigeria, By Sufuyan Ojeifo

Whatever issues that confronted them; whatever hurdles they had to scale before they were conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, all paled into insignificance on Monday, November 28, 2022 when they were inducted into the prestigious rank, along with 60 others, by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola.

To be sure, becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria carries with it a certain signification or consequence that evidently demonstrates the weight and expansiveness of the rights and privileges that occupiers of the rank enjoy in the practice of the legal profession.

I do not, however, intend to delve into or explore these cornucopia rights and privileges in this celebratory piece about my two friends and brothers that tells the stories of grass to grace, tenacity of purpose, consistence and persistence, and, of course, bravura performances that have all earned approbation and validation from the appropriate quarters.

In fact, the elevation of the duo of Bolarinwa Elijah Aidi and Adamson Lateef Adeboro, both from Akoko area in Ondo State, into the rank of SAN is a realization of dreams long nurtured and harboured by them. And, although, they individually carried their dreams, the dogged pursuit of excellence that culminated in the huge recognition had from the outset received from me sustained encouragement.

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Many years back, when both newly decorated SANs were very far away from the rank, I had embraced the routine of addressing them as such. And for them to accomplish the dream at the same time means so much to me. The “canonization” of Bola Aidi and Adamson Adeboro is a collective blessing of which I am happy to be a part.

Now, there is something that excites me about my relationship with Bola and Adamson. It is the fact that whereas Bola had been a friend from the early eighties at the Ondo State College of Arts and Science, Ikare, where we enrolled for our Advanced Level courses, he introduced and handed me over to Adamson Adeboro in Abuja about 1999 when I needed the services of a lawyer to accomplish some tasks.

At this time, Bola had accomplished some initial tasks for me and having his hands full, he had decided to give out some briefs to a much younger Adamson in a deliberate bid to assist the younger lawyer to grow as fast as possible. That was how I would later become closer to Adamson than Bola. And whereas, both of them were and remain inseparable, it is to Adamson that I have continued to gravitate and I want to thank my friend Bola Aidi for gifting me his friend who has, over the years, become at first a friend and subsequently a brother to me.

Looking back to the beginning of our relationship, I can only say that it has been a connected story of understanding and effusive outpour of concerns mostly bordering on selflessness. I am not a troublemaker but on few occasions that I had found myself in court over some issues-one or two are still pending though, Adamson has continued to provide the necessary legal services pro-bono.

Hardworking, sharply-focused, man-caring and God-fearing, Adamson is an archetypical go-getter whose work ethic and professional ethos greatly inspire me. He has, over the years, built relationships that transcend the legal practice. The attendance by guests at his reception on Monday evening right into the night was, exempli gratia, incredibly impressive. Celebrations galore simply describes the ecosystem of the Vision Events Arena, in Wuse 2, Abuja where he hosted a reception for guests. Adewale Ayuba, Kwam 1, spiced up the occasion with songs. And the SAN with his guests danced and danced. It was part of Adamson’s protocol of appreciating God for His protection and guidance in his impressive legal voyage. The first time he applied for the rank of SAN was 2021. He did not get it. He got it on a second attempt.

Now, let me return to Bolarinwa Aidi, who also hosted a reception for his guests at Chida International Hotel in Jabi Area of Abuja. It was an occasion that was solemnly dedicated to the Almightiness of God. With a plethora of clerics in attendance whose prayers and labour of love he copiously referenced, Bolarinwa’s story about how he had pursued the rank of SAN since 2012 was very touching. He mentioned individuals, especially his course mates, who had become SANs ten years back who encouraged him not to give up in his quest for the prestigious rank.

Perhaps, the most touching of his ex-tempore address to the guests was the bit about how his father insisted that he must study Law. On his part, it was Theatre Arts he wanted. He said the father told him point blank that if he wanted to study Theatre Arts, it would be better for him to enroll with Jimoh Aliu Theatre Group instead of wasting his money on school fees for an art that could be learnt under the tutelage of the renowned Yoruba theatre impresario (Jimoh Aliu). He said the tenacity of his father made him to have a rethink when he was already a three-hundred level student of Theatre Arts at the University to begin the study of Law at the University of Benin.

Whereas, he was happy that his father saw him become a lawyer before he died in 2001, he was somewhat sad that he was not around to see him get to the apogee of his legal career as SAN. Conversely, he specifically adverted the guests’ attention to his mother, who was happily seated in the hall and for whom the MC requested guests to give a standing ovation. He spoke of how she sold her sewing machine to raise the money he needed to pay his fees at the Nigerian Law School when the family fell on hard times.

An excited Bola Aidi recognized virtually everybody that was present on the occasion: his secondary school mates at the Comprehensive High School, Ikare, who came in their numbers, his course mates at OSCAS, Ikare, his course mates in the University and others whose paths crossed with his in the practice of the legal profession. He tried his best possible to cover the field.

Good outings by the new SANs! This is wishing the duo much more rewarding legal practice as they consolidate their gains and leverage the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria to define their epochs.

● Ojeifo contributed this piece via ojwonderngr@yahoo.com