Chief Olanipekun pays condolence visit to family of late Justice Kayode Eso, Extols Eso’s virtue as an incorruptible judge

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Ibadan, Chief Wole Olanipekun, on Monday paid a condolence visit to the family of late Honourable Justice Kayode Eso in Ibadan.

In a letter titled ” Kayode Eso : The Translation of a sage, Olanipekun (SAN), noted that the passing on of Justice Esho was a watershed in the history of law profession in Nigeria.

The letter  reads, “The passing on of the Honourable Justice Kayode Eso constitutes a watershed,not only in the anals of the legal profession and Nigeria as a whole but also in the entire history of mankind. Like the great prophets of old,as well as the universally acclaimed philosophers and thinkers,the like of Kayode Eso come in like a flash (and not in large quantity)in any generation.

“Despite their microscopic proportion to the larger society,God uses them to revolutionise ,rearrange,re-organise,restructure and stabilise every clime or environment He situates them”Chief Olanipekun said.

Continuing,Chief Olanipekun extol the virtue of late Justice Eso’s wisdom in proportion to Aristotle  and Socrates – a God’s chosen prophet  for Nigeria.

“Our dear Kayode Eso was not an exception to God’s infinite arrangement for mankind and like the Aristotles,the Socrates,the Platos ,the Austins,the Thomas Aquinases,the Coker,the Awolowos,the Lord Dennings,the Diceys,the Marshals etc before him,Kayode Eso was a great thinker,an indepth psychologist,an indomitable philosopher,a cerebral and outstanding jurist qua incorruptible and versatile judge,an erudite scholar,a frontline poet and writwe and a foremost revolutionary,not in the mould of the military coupist,but one who used his God-given intellect and strength to positively change and re-arrange the Nigerian Jurisprudent landscape”. Chief Olanipekun further revealed the impartial role of the late erudite jurist stating that Justice Eso contributed immensely  to the democracy in Nigeria.

“Right from the High Court ,through the defunct Western State Court of Appeal,and finally berthing at the Supreme Court of NIgeria,his judgments were thorough,painstaking,brillant,penetrating,compelling,epocal and illuminating.

His leading judgments stand as precedents for lawyers and Judges at all times and for all season;while the contributory ones are as forensic and robust as the main judgments. When he dissented like he did in the celebrated case of Awolowo v Shagari(1979)6-9 SC31,the attention of the whole world particularly the legal community would be drawn to the very essence and reasons for his dissent as it would either pave the way for future re-awakening and re-thinking amongst his fellow justices,or immediate amendment of the subject-statute by the Legislature. Kayode Eso stood tall amongst his peers,both at the Bar and Bench and no one with any modicum of conscience would dare question or doubt the quality of his intelligence and pragmatism the good Lord endowed him with. His autobiography titles “The Mystery Gunman”bear eloquent testimony to the good upbringing,character,marvellous learning,scholarship and profundity of this quintessential scholar qua universally respected Jurist.  His demise though at a ripe age is nevertheless a great blow to the Nigeria Legal system in particular and to the country in general.

This is more so when real,actual,factual and respected moderators,role models,mentors,teachers,preachers and father -figures like him are very few in our own clime and times.

While celebrating his life and times and praying that his beloved soul would find a peaceful repose in the bosom of the Lord,we have to equally fervently pray that the same good Lord who has been gracious enough to bequeath to us the likes of the Kayode Esos in our dear country  May the Lord grant both the family and our dear country the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. Our consolation lies in the truism that Kayode Eso lived a full circle,bequeathing to humanity and to generations yet unborn legacies that cannot be wiped off by the tides of time.

Adieu and Good Night great Jurist and Philosopher-King!