BEVERLY HILLS, April 20, (THEWILL) – Legal luminary, Chief Richard Akinjide, SAN, 88, a former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, died in his Ibadan, Oyo State residence early Tuesday after a protracted ailment, family sources told the press.
Akinjide was a politician and an influential leader in the southwest. He earned his Law degree in the United Kingdom and was called to the English Bar in 1955 and later called to the Nigerian Bar. He thereafter established his law firm, Akinjide & Co.
The deceased served as a Minister of Education in the first republic, during the government of Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa and Minister for Justice in the second republic, during the administration of President Shehu Shagari.
He was a member of the judicial systems sub-committee of the Constitutional Drafting Committee of 1975-1977 and later joined the National Party of Nigeria in 1978. He became the legal adviser for the party and was later appointed the Minister for Justice.
