Chief Kolawole Inneh SAN, the most senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from the South-South region of the country, has died at the age of 87.
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Inneh, SAN, earned his silk as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1984, and he was reportedly the most senior SAN in the South-South region
He was publicly recognized and celebrated on various occasions, including his 85th birthday celebration
According to family sources, the respected legal luminary passed away in the early hours of Monday after a brief illness.
Inneh, who hailed from Edo State, had an illustrious legal career spanning over 50 years. He was one of the first lawyers from the region to be conferred with the prestigious rank of SAN back in 1989.
The deceased handled several high-profile cases and served as lead counsel for state governments, multinational corporations, banks and traditional institutions over the course of his storied career.
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has expressed profound sadness over Inneh’s passing, describing him as a legal colossus, dedicated family man and an inspiration to many.
“Chief Inneh was an unwavering voice for justice and fairness, impacting countless lives, especially the downtrodden, positively. His death has surely robbed us of a great man,” Obaseki said via a statement.
The Governor condoled with the Inneh family, friends, associates and the people of Edo State and prayed for fortitude and strength to bear the huge loss.
Inneh is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren, including a son, Adetokunbo Omoregie Okeaya-Inneh, SAN, and a judge daughter, Hon. Justice Joy Oghogho Okeaya-Inneh, as well as Osahon Okeaya-Inneh, Esq., a practicing lawyer, who followed his footsteps into the legal profession.
The NBA Elder Statesman greatly contributed to the growth of the legal profession in Nigeria during his lifetime. Some of the landmark cases which Okeaya-Inneh, SAN, the most senior learned Silk in the South-South region handled that extended the frontiers of the legal profession are:
Kola Okeaya-Inneh Vs Madam Ekiomado Aguebor (1970) LCN/1838 (SC),
Aighobahi v. Aifuwa (2006) 136 LRCN 1021 at 1038.
Funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course by the family.
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