I met him first time in our Contract class, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in the 1990/91 academic session. I had just joined the faculty from the Philosophy Department.
He was a calm, cool and urbane young lad with an undistracted focus. I later discovered that he was the son of a serving Justice of the Court of Appeal, indeed the President of the Court as at the time. Yet, Mohammed was unassuming and exceptionally humble.
In later years of our study, he organised the JUSTICE CHAMBERS to which I subscribed along with many classmates of ours.
Mohammed Mustapha Akanbi(MM) as we fondly called him became the Lord Advocate of the JUSTICE CHAMBERS, a platform we used to begin the sharpening of our advocacy skills.
He was quite exceptional in his handling of our moot proceedings and competed favourably with other Chambers like the EQUITY CHAMBERS, and the like under his leadership.
MM was a leader from cradle and demonstrated it all through his academic and professional career until his demise yesterday, 20th November, 2022.
I recall connecting with him less than a year ago to inquire about the possibility of having another Classmate of ours transfer his services from another state University to Kwara State University and his response, was in his characteristic way, affirmative.
At the Just Lawyers Forum(JLF), we are distraught and distressed about his exit from our midst. He was a leading light among our colleagues- First Professor of Law, First Vice Chancellor and first Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
MM, you will surely and sorely be missed.
Rest In Peace our dear friend and brother.
● Rt.Hon. Samson Osagie, Ph.D
Chairman, Africa Bar Association, Nigeria Forum
21 November, 2022
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