It was a day of edifying tribute last week as the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, held a valedictory court session in honour of Late Justice Michael Abiodun Akoja, who died on 25th of February, 2013 in Ilorin. 

In a valedictory speech in honour of the late jurist, the Chief Judge of the state, Hon. Justice Ayinla O. Bamigbola described the late Akoja as a gentleman per excellence and an accomplished Jurist. He said: “his service as a lawyer in the Ministry of Justice and a judge of the High Court is eloquent testimony to the fact that he left a legacy of Excellence of service marked with courage discipline, integrity and great industry.”

Bamigbola said that   Akoja discharged the duties of his office creditably.

According to the CJ, “by his death this court will lose his learning and brotherhood but his judgments will forever remain with the court.

“My attention was drawn to that item on his C.V. showing expected date of retirement – 28th December, 2016. But alas, this erudite and forthright judicial officer died on the 25th February, 2013, Life is indeed short! he added.

Justice Bamigbola added further that the late jursit never wasted time while attending to cases before him. Even when faced with challenges to his health that ultimately cut short his life. “Parties in the cases before him reposed absolute confidence in the court and only sought for transfer with reluctance, of cases before him as a last result, and even then prayed for his quick recovery. He was a role model” the CJ stated.

In his remark, the Honourable Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice Kamaldeen Ajibade noted that Justice Akoja started his service to the government of Kwara State as a Clerical Staff but through determination, he pursued a degree in Law and thereafter became a State Counsel in the old Kwara State.

According to him, as a conscientious and diligent legal officer, his length of service saw him serving in Kabba, Lokoja and Okene Zonal Offices of the Ministry of Justice. It is on record that he served without any tainted or adverse report during this period.

“Hon. Justice Akoja later rose to the position of Director of Public Prosecutions, a position which he managed effectively and admirably before he was appointed as a Judge of the High Court in 1998.

“The Ministry of Justice therefore received the news of his demise with a heavy heart. He will be remembered for having mentored the bulk of the Senior Lawyers of the Ministry.

“Incidentally, in January 2012 when the Ministry held an intensive training, Hon. Justice Akoja was invited as one of the resource persons and evidently, the paper delivered by the late Judge was highly educative and interactive in nature. His absence in the judicial terrain will therefore create a vacuum to be felt by the Ministry”, Ajibade said.

He therefore express the heartfelt condolence of the Kwara State Government under the leadership of Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed to the Judiciary and indeed to the family of Hon. Justice Akoja.

“As we all mourn the departure of this erudite Judge, we are consoled in the fact that by his contribution to the dispensation of Justice in this state, he has no doubt left his foot prints on the sands of time. He has come, he has fought and he has left the baton and the stage for us to carry on,” he added.

Also in his address, the Chairman Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch, Barrister R.O. Balogun said the “our gathering here this morning is a solemn one which calls for sober reflection. A reflection not only of the good life God almighty has enabled the deceased, late Hon. Justice M. A. Akoja to live, which has become part of history, but more of the life we are living as individuals, so as to improve on our good ways and mend our deficiencies before we exhaust the residue of our lease of life.”

Balogun who was represented at court session by Dr. Ibrahim A. Abikan, Vice Chairman, NBA llorin, stated that “for us at the NBA, and at this point we make bold to speak for our members in llorin and elsewhere who had the fortune of appearing before or relating with your Lordship, fond memories of your good nature, friendliness, civility, open-mindedness, sound intellect, courage, humility, unassuming character and a lot more of good virtues you exhibited while you were with us will remain fresh with us for many years to come.

“You were with us at the official Bar for the greater part of your career life. Your shrewdness and astuteness at prosecuting offenders while you were at the Ministry of Justice cannot be easily surpassed.

“Our very young ones will remember you for the way you build their confidence even when they were still wobbling as green wigs. Our senior members will also not forget you too quickly for your politeness even at the point of disagreement. We really all are going to miss you greatly,” he said.

He stated further that, “we have no doubt in our minds that your colleagues on the bench will also miss you in no measurable terms.

“Although you have left us, we take solace in the fact that as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you feared no evil. We also have high hopes that your death is precious in the sight of the Lord.

Hon. Justice Michael Abiodun Akoja, Justice of the High Court of Kwara State of Nigeria passed on the 25th day of February this year, at llorin. He was 61 years of age.

He was born at Osi in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara state on 28th December, 1951. He was educated at St. Brigid’s Cathorlic primary school Osi (1958-1964), St. John’s College, Kaduna (1965-1969) School of Basic Studies, Kwara State College of Technology, llorin (1976-1978) Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (1979-1982) Nigerian law school, Lagos (1982-1983) and Nigerian institute of Advanced legal Studies, Lagos 1991.

Late Akoja studied Law in the University of Lagos where he passed his LL.B in 1982.  He was called to the bar in Nigeria on 8th July, 1983.

He passed the certificate in legal Drafting at the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Study Lagos in 1991. During his meritorious career, Michael Akoja served the state in the Ministry of Agriculture and natural resources as Produce Inspector and Asstistance Produce Superintendent between 1970 and 1978 after which he was granted study leave to read Law at the University of Lagos in 1979-1982.

In 1984 at the end of his National service upon graduation from the University he transferred his service to the Kwara State Ministry of Justice where he rose through the ranks to the post of Acting Director of Public Prosecution.

In 1999 he was appointed a High Court Judge and he was sworn in on 10th February, 1999. Since Hon. Justice Michael Abiodun Akoja’s appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Kwara state in 1999, he took up several other judicial assignments within and outside the state.

He was a member of Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Petition Tribunal River State. Member, Governorship and legislative houses Election Petition Tribunal Adamawa State, Anambra State and FCT Abuja between 2007 and November, 2011.

He was a member of Kwara State Committee of Criminal Justice and member Kwara State High Court Civil Procedure review Committee in 1999, and 2009 - 2010 respectively.