Nigeria’s bustling city of Lagos seemed to stand at attention today as a throng of human rights activists, lawyers, and sundry folks gathered to pay homage to Bamidele Aturu, an activist lawyer who died two weeks ago after a brief illness.
As Mr. Aturu’s funeral program commenced today, many of his professional colleagues, his cohorts in the pro-democracy movement, as well as a cross section of Nigerians whose cause the late lawyer took on, were out in force to pay tributes, recall aspects of his life as a lawyer and social crusader, and share anecdotes of their interactions or encounters with him.
Femi Falana, one of Mr. Aturu’s close professional colleagues, shared a funny story about the late Aturu’s awkwardness when it came to charging legal fees to the clients he represented in court or other transactions. Mr. Falana disclosed that many professional colleagues had advised Mr. Aturu to always discuss and specify his fees, but the late lawyer was never able to develop the business skill of negotiating and collecting his fees.
In another tribute, Yinka Faroumbi, the new chairman of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, counseled all activists to remain close to their family, stating that Mr. Aturu did not leave much money behind for his immediate family because of the late lawyer’s altruistic lifestyle.
Another lawyer, Malachy Ugwumadu, described the deceased lawyer as one of a few people who could be trusted to take principled positions without compromising their ethical values.
A number of activists also took their turn to offer testimonies of their times with Mr. Aturu who first emerged to national limelight when, during the passing out parade as a youth corps member, he refused to shake the hands of a military governor of Niger State, then Colonel Lawan Gwadabe. The fledging lawyer had explained later that his action was to protest the military’s role in undermining democracy and free expression in Nigeria.
Several activists portrayed Mr. Aturu as a dependable ally they could count on in any struggle.
“You could go to war with your two eyes closed, trusting that Aturu was fighting without compromise,” said feminist activist, Joe Okei-Odumakin.
In a chat with our correspondent, the secretary of the Joint Action Front (JAF), Abiodun Aremu, said Mr. Aturu was the only lawyer who ever offered him a payment for a brief he sent.
“I never knew there was anything like that. Aturu made me know that when I send briefs to lawyers, I am entitled to a certain amount of money. He wrote me a check for N200,000 and insisted I must collect it as a matter of right,” Mr. Aremu said.
Mr. Aturu will be buried on Friday, July 25 in his hometown of Ogbagi Akoko in the Akoko area of
Ondo State.
