TRIBUTE TO MY BROTHER, MY FRIEND AND MY FATTHER-BAMIDELE ATURU by Nwokwu John Stephen C My first encounter with BAMIDELE ATURU was in 2008, at a political forum organized by Catholic dioceses of Lagos. I came across him by accident of history rather than design. I was enthusiastic of meeting the legal big wigs like Agbakoba and Aturu because of my quest for a good, dynamic and active personality of note for my mentorship. However, my last conversation with him was on Tuesday 8th July 2014 by 7.10 pm when he said to me “John good night” without good bye. I had never met, seen or had any contact with Bamidele Aturu. It was fate and destiny working together in an inexplicable manner that brought about my working with Bamidele Aturu & Co., Bamidele Aturu is a quintessential legal practitioner, a lawyer of no means repute and achievement, an uncommon, hardworking, industrious, intelligent, robust, articulate and religious personality who places and puts God first in all his endeavours. He is a legal practitioner per excellence who has no room and patience for mediocrity and laziness. He is a rare gem, a man who appears to have come ahead of his generation. His grasp and perception of legal matters is amazing, unrivalled and exceptional. He is a highly gifted and talented advocate. He bestrides the legal landscape like a colossus. He is a total, complete, bold, articulate, dynamic, fiery, consistent and uncompromising Advocate whose words are his bonds. On the demise of a quintessential, brilliant, upright, versatile and revered legal practitioner, Bamidele Aturu on Wednesday, 9th July, 2014, his death came to me as a rude shock, a denial of love and a rape of cross fertilization of legal practice. With his death, I have lost a father and Nigeria has lost one of the most courageous, valiant, audacious, consistent, dependable, steadfast, principled and erudite lawyer ever produced in the entire nation. He was outstanding, exceptional and remarkable. He was the best of everything in life. As a father and a brother, he was an epitome of discipline, humility and unpretentious. As a lawyer, he detested corruption, bad governance and abuse of office. He would be remembered for his honesty, integrity and incorruptibility. He was a scholar of unusual ability, an author par excellence and his power of erudition was awesome. His intellectual prowess was compelling, alluring, ravishing and enchanting. His contributions to the advancement of the legal profession especially National Industrial Court jurisprudence and the administration of justice cannot be overemphasized. Bamidele Aturu your motto was aut optimum aut nil meaning either the best or nothing. He was a scholar of all times and a genius in a dauntless and exclusive class of his own. He was indeed a testimony of prodigious achievements and inimitable excellence. The legal profession indeed has lost a rare gem! His sheer distinction, brilliancy, rectitude, morality, honesty, ethos, spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie would continue to be a reference point for a very long time to come. He has left a big vacuum that will be difficult to fill. I wish I can! The consoling grace, however, is that he made his mark within his short time on earth, leaving imperishable footprints on the sands of time. Good Night my benefactor, motivator, advisor, patriarch, role model and highly revered mentor, rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord. John Nwokwu Esq
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 06:05:09 +0000
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