I was firstly gravitated towards Chief R. O. Balogun due to his unprecedented achievements as a student Unionist in the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin. During my studentship in Unilorin, I was impressed to know that Chief R. O. Balogun, Baloo was instrumental to the establishment of the Law Students’ Society (LSS). He was the 2nd President of LSS, University of Ilorin and during his tenure, many achievements were recorded. He Secured Law Students’ office and established the Annual Law Journal known today worldwide as ‘THE JURIST’. The ‘THE JURIST’ is designed by learned Chief Balogun to celebrate legal icons who have contributed their quotas to the development of Law in the country. It may interest you to note that over the years, the journal had been published in honour of many Legal Luminaries which include two Former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Muhammad Uwais and Honourable Justice Alfa Belgore; two Former Presidents of the Court of Appeal, Late Honourable Justice Mustapha Akanbi and Honourable Justice Umar Farouk Abdullahi; two Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Bolarinwa Babalakin and Honourable Justice George Oguntade; Four Presidents of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Wole Olanipekun, SAN; OCJ Okocha, SAN; Olisa Agbakoba, SAN and Rotimi Akoredolu, SAN, (Governor of Ondo State). Also honoured are Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Lawal Rabana, SAN, Rev John Olusola Bayeisiah, SAN etc. Up till now, this journal has been a major source of income to the Students’ Union of the Faculty of Law, Unilorin. Similarly, through his sagacity in his leadership capacity, he started moot Court trial and established in the Faculty, the four popular Chambers: Equity, Justice, Liberty and Human Rights Chambers. He gave these four Chambers take-off grant from his pocket. It needs to be stated that I belonged to Justice Chamber and I was the Chamber’s Registrar. I am proud of my membership of Justice Chamber. During our days, there was usually a competition between these various Chambers which gave many students of the Faculty, including my humble self the opportunity to showcase our advocacy, talent, and activism via moot Court trial. All these rolled together made my days, like many Students of the Faculty a worthwhile. It is an experience I can’t forget in hurry. Chief Rafiu Oyeyemi Balogun’s leadership skills, activism, accessibility and doggedness in the fight for justice made him the most preferred Candidate among other Contestants when he contested for the post of General Secretary of the NBA, Ilorin Branch during the 2009 NBA Election. As the General Secretary of the Ilorin Branch of NBA, he enriched the Branch’s Library by personally donating Books and Law Reports and through donations from other Publishers following his requests. He also provided, from his personal pocket, a 24-hour internet facility at the Bar Centre for his two-year tenure as the Secretary. Similarly, during his stewardship as the General Secretary of the Branch, not fewer than seven (7) young lawyers benefited from Car Gift as part of the Branch’s young lawyers empowerment programme by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN. This singular gesture, no doubt had a multiplier effect in the Branch as many Principals, (including mine, Mr Dayo Akinlaja, SAN) bought Cars for their Juniors during that period. In fact, my own car was bought for me that very day of the raffle draw. Following these laudable achievements and sterling leadership qualities which have over the years endeared members of the Ilorin Bar towards him, there was a smooth ride to landslide victory during the 2011 NBA Ilorin Branch Election when Chief R. O. Balogun contested for the Chairmanship of Ilorin Bar. He became the Chairman immediately after his tenure as Secretary. In the history of Ilorin Bar, he is the only one who made it in succession. Chief Balogun’s Chairmanship, in which I was privileged to serve as Publicity Secretary, Ilorin Bar witnessed tremendous achievements among which are: Unity of the Bar, Constitution of Council of Elders, Provision of over 100 laptops/iPads for members on loan Courtesy of Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN, a Book in honour of Hon. Justice Ayo Salami (PCA RTD) and above all the redesigning and reconstruction of the Bar Centre/House which has now become the PRIDE of all well-meaning members of the Branch. One thing that stands Chief R. O. Balogun out as a selfless leader and a Bar Man per excellence is his personal donation of a whooping sum of one million naira (#1,000,000) to the continuation of the reconstruction of the Bar Centre/House at a time when work on the project had stopped due to lack of funds. Although, the Bar House which was about 65% completion, could not be completed by Chief R. O. Balogun before handing over the mantle of leadership to his immediate successor. it was completed by the Manzuma Issa’s led administration and commissioned by His Excellency, Dr Abdulfafah Ahmed, Governor of Kwara State with the help of A.B Mahmoud, SAN President, NBA during Ilorin NEC meeting. Chief Balogun’s leadership career in NBA notwithstanding, to the glory of God, he has handled many cases from lower Courts to the Highest Court in the land. Chief Rafiu Oyeyemi Balogun has demonstrated uncommon sterling leadership qualities and entrusting him with further and another leadership role will only ensure nothing but services delivery and promises delivered. #BalooTheBarManPerExcellence. Yahaya A. Alajo Esq, Ex-Publicity Secretary, Ex-Asst. Gen. Secretary, NBA, ILORIN]]>
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Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
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