Hon. Justice Adekola Nurudeen Olalekan, a former Chief Judge of Oyo State, has passed away at the age of 94.
He died on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.
A statement announcing his death read:
*”It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of a distinguished member of our community, Justice Nurudeen Olalekan Adekola, of Cassia Street, Alalubosa GRA, Ibadan. He is survived by his loving wife, children, and grandchildren, who are left to mourn the loss of a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
We pray that God grants his soul eternal rest and comforts his family during this difficult time. His legacy as a respected jurist and pillar of our community will be deeply missed. May his memory be a blessing to us all.”*
Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Justice Adekola began his education at Mapo Christ Church Elementary School (1939–1945) and Ibadan Central School (1946–1947) before proceeding to Ibadan Grammar School (1949–1954). He studied law at Holborn College of Law and the University of London (1956–1959) before being called to the Bar at Middle Temple in 1961.
His judicial career began in 1977 with his appointment as a judge of the High Court of Justice in Oyo State. He served across various judicial divisions, including Ife, Ilesha, Saki, and Ibadan. In 1995, he was appointed Acting Chief Judge of Oyo State, and in 1997, he became the substantive Chief Judge, a position he held until his retirement.
A respected legal scholar, Justice Adekola played a significant role in legal literature. He was the Secretary of the Law Reporting Committee for the Oyo State High Court (1976–1979) and a member of the Editorial Board of Evans Publishing Company (1979–1985). He also served as President of the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria (1976–1977).
In recognition of his contributions to Nigeria’s legal landscape, a collection of essays titled “Topical Issues in Nigerian Law”, edited by Luqman Laoye and John O.A. Akintayo, was published in his honor.
Justice Adekola is survived by his wife, Sekinat Olapeju Adekola Animashaun, six children, and grandchildren.
He will be buried at 4:00 pm on Wednesday according to Islamic rites.
