Adesina Ogunlana Memorial Lecture: Honouring a Fearless Advocate of Justice
Adesina Ademola Ogunlana, fondly known as Serubawon and to others as Daddy Akin, Popsy Akanbi, Baba Lashabi, and Aare Onakakanfo of the NBA Ikeja Branch, was a man whose life was inseparable from the struggle for justice. Born with an uncommon sense of courage and an unyielding spirit, Ogunlana dedicated his entire professional journey to the service of law, humanity, and truth.
As a lawyer, he was more than an advocate in the courtroom; he was a defender of the voiceless, a relentless critic of injustice, and a voice that rang loud against oppression. His leadership as Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, was marked by fearless advocacy and bold resistance against every form of societal and governmental overreach. He was not one to court comfort or compromise, but rather, a man who carried the burdens of the downtrodden with dignity.
Ogunlana also left a distinct imprint as Publisher of The Learned Squib, a bold and courageous publication that exposed corruption, amplified accountability, and stood as a beacon of truth in the legal profession. With his pen, just as with his voice, he unsettled the comfortable and gave comfort to those silenced by injustice.
Beyond law and journalism, he was a human rights defender whose activism was a lifelong calling. He stood shoulder to shoulder with the masses in moments of trial, embodying the principle that justice is not a privilege for the few, but a fundamental right for all. His passing on August 6, 2024, just ten days after celebrating his 60th birthday, left the legal community, the human rights movement, and the nation at large with a void that words can scarcely fill.
It is against this backdrop that the Adesina Ogunlana Memorial Lecture holds on Friday, 12th September 2025, at The Bar Centre, High Court Premises, Oba Akinjobi Way, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. The event, themed “Adesina Ogunlana: The Man, the Law and the Struggle for Social Justice”, is expected to gather members of the Bar, Bench, civil society, and the wider public to celebrate the legacy of this remarkable advocate.
The Lecture will be chaired by Prof. Lanre Fagbohun, SAN, while the Guest Speaker, Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, will deliver the keynote address. Together, they will lead reflections on the man, his work, and the enduring struggle for justice that defined his life.
Adesina Ogunlana’s legacy is not one of silence or complacency, but of defiance against injustice, of courage in the face of threats, and of unflinching dedication to truth. His memory challenges us all to rise beyond cowardice, compromise, and convenience to carry forward the flame of justice he so fearlessly lit.
Indeed, Serubawon was not just a lawyer; he was a force of nature whose spirit continues to inspire, provoke, and guide all who believe that justice is worth the struggle.
Signed:
Barr. Barth Okoye Aniche
Immediate Past Publicity Secretary, Eastern Bar Forum
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