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Lawyers Pay Tribute To Aturu In Lagos

Numerous lawyers, including Gbolahan Gbadamosi, Ricky Tafa, Omotola Rotimi, shared memories about Mr. Aturu. Ms. Rotimi stated that the history of the Office of the Public Defender could not be written without Mr. Aturu.

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Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) offered reflections on the life and work of Bamidele Aturu, a human rights activist and lawyer who died three weeks ago.

The late lawyer was honored at an NBA valedictory session held in Ikeja, Lagos State on Thursday. At the event, the chairman of the Ikeja branch of the NBA, Yinka Farounmbi, described Mr. Aturu as a “true and committed fighter of the cause of the poor.”  

Another lawyer, Dotun Adetunji, outlined the deceased lawyer’s commitment “to serve the cause of social justice by effectively and competently using the law in spite of its limitations to defend the underprivileged, the dispossessed, and the oppressed.” He added that the late lawyer was “a leading voice in the struggle against all forms of discrimination and undue privileges and participated in all forms of actions aimed at social reforms and change.”

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Also, another lawyer, Alex Morka, decried the decline of moral courage in Nigeria. “We have become a nation of cowards before authority; we shy away from speaking out in defense of the truth,” he said, describing Mr. Aturu as a giant. He urged other members of the bar to emulate the late Aturu by speaking out in defense of the truth.

Numerous lawyers, including Gbolahan Gbadamosi, Ricky Tafa, Omotola Rotimi, shared memories about Mr. Aturu. Ms. Rotimi stated that the history of the Office of the Public Defender could not be written without Mr. Aturu. She disclosed that the late lawyer “contributed towards the development of OPD as he wrote the strategic plans for the OPD in its first 5 years of operation,” adding that he tried to ensure that the rights of the poor and disadvantaged were not trampled upon. She noted that Mr. Aturu ensured the public defenders took up some cases that were of public interest and they went to court and won those cases. She cited some of the cases, including the Yaya Abatan case where a police DPO shot four young people, and the Ejigbo case where some women were sexually assaulted with pepper.

"Even in death Aturu still imparts knowledge,” she said.

Other speakers at the session included Justice Olubunmi Oyewole and Ogaga Ifowodo, a poet, lawyer, professor and political activist.