The President, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN), is dead.
The elder statesman, who was born on September 29, 1934, died about 8:00pm on Friday at his Lagos residence.
The renowned jurist was buried in accordance with Islamic rites at his Ikenne-Remo residence amidst encomiums and tributes by prominent Nigerians.
The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and former Chief of Army Staff, General Oladipo Diya, were among the eminent personalities that sympathised with the Sofola family.
Also present were business moguls, Sir Kessington Adebutu; Chief S.O. Babalola, Secretary-General of YCE, Dr Kunle Olajide; industrialist and Asiwaju of Remoland, Chief Solomon Onafowokan; Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, Professor Olu Sofowora, and former governorship candidate in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, among others.
In his tribute written in the condolence register opened by the family, Osinbajo said the late Sofola was a great icon of the legal profession.
“My dear uncle and a great icon of our great profession, you have left shoes to big to fill, but we thank God for your legacies too many to mention. We pray that God will console and comfort us all in Jesus name,” the vice president said.
Amosun, who was among the early callers at the Ikenne-Remo residence of the late Sofola, described the late Senior Advocate of Nigeria as an icon in the legal profession that dutifully served the nation.
According to him, the deceased lived a life of service to his community, the state, Nigeria and the global community.
The governor said with the passing of the late Sofola, the rank of the country’s giants was gradually depleting.
He said: “We are not happy that he (Sofola) has left us at this time and at the same time, we are not mourning his exit from this earth. He lived a good life of service to his community, Ikenne; Ogun State and Nigeria.
“Another of the likes of those giants have gone. They all lived good life. Baba Sofola selflessly served us, not only in Ogun State, but in Nigeria. As humans, we do not want him to go, but who are we to query Almighty Allah.”
