By Andrew Ekanem
Two decades after his passing, distinguished legal minds, civil society leaders, human-rights activists, and family members converged in Lagos to commemorate the 20th memorial of Alao Aka-Bashorun, one of Nigeria’s most fearless champions of justice, democracy and human dignity.
The memorial symposium, themed ‘Exploration of the Revolutionary Life and Works of Alao Aka-Bashorun,’ held weekend at the Railway Club, Ebute-Metta. It drew participants from across the country and abroad, with over 120 guests attending physically, while many others joined virtually.
Chairman of the Alao Aka-Bashorun Memorial Bar Association (AAIMBA), Ayo Ademiluyi, a lawyer, in a welcome address recalled Aka-Bashorun’s humility, integrity, and lifelong commitment to truth and justice.
He described the activist as “a light that refused to dim even under dictatorship,” and urged young lawyers to emulate his courage and devotion to public service.
Professor Akin Ibidapo-Obe, the keynote speaker, explored Aka-Bashorun’s life, ideology, and enduring impact on the legal profession. Ibidapo-Obe described him as a visionary whose activism gave moral depth to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
“He stood out for his dual role as a leader of the Bar and an ally of workers. Indeed, Aka-Bashorun fused law with activism in a way that still challenges every generation of lawyers,” Ibidapo-Obe stated.
Comrade Gbenga Komolafe, a veteran labour leader, described Aka-Bashorun as a bridge between the Bar and the working class, noting that the late human-rights icon “believed that the law should never be a weapon of the powerful, but a shield for the weak.”
Affiong L. Affiong, co-founder of the Moyo Pan-African Solidarity Centre, in praise of Aka-Bashorun’s Pan-African outlook, said: “He was not just a lawyer for Nigeria, but a defender of African dignity. His courage inspired liberation movements across the continent.”
Dr. Azeez, a scholar and human-rights advocate, examined Aka-Bashorun’s legal philosophy. According to him, the activist taught that a lawyer’s highest calling was not wealth or prestige, but impact,” adding that “his example remains a moral compass for our generation.”
Speakers collectively described him as a man of intellectual brilliance, moral courage, and compassion — a rare blend of scholar and activist who embodied justice as a way of life.
They urged lawyers and policymakers to rekindle his vision of an independent judiciary and a society governed by fairness and accountability, citing the importance of his values in a country still battling corruption and political impunity.
As one participant described the rights icon, “he was not only a lawyer, but the conscience of the nation.”
Family members of the late activist thanked organisers for honouring his memory, describing the event as a “reaffirmation of his lifelong mission for truth and justice.”
Aka-Bashorun studied law at the Inner Temple, London, before returning home to build a distinguished career. As NBA President in 1987, he restructured the Bar for transparency and independence, earning national recognition for fearless defense of human rights, particularly during the repressive military years.
He was also notable for aligning with the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and other pro-democracy movements, which helped transform the NBA into a central voice for freedom and rule of law.
