The Secretary-General of the Nigeria
Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Abdul Lateef Adegbite is dead.
The Islamic leader and Baba Adinni of
Egbaland died in a Lagos hospital of an undisclosed ailment aged 79.
His death reportedly threw Abeokuta
and Egbaland into fresh mourning, coming on the heels of the demise of two
prominent Egba sons, Chief Oluwole Adeosun and Chief Segun Taiwo.
Amosun, in a statement by his Senior
Special Assistant on Media, Funmi Wakama, described the late Adegbite as one of
the greatest men produced by the state.
“Dr. Adegbite shone like a star in
the field of law and was well known across the world as the mouthpiece of Islam
in Nigeria. The late Seriki was a man who usually offered wise counsel to
governments at federal and state levels.
“The demise of Dr. Adegbite is not
just a loss to Ogun State but to Nigeria as a whole,” the governor said.
The Ogun State governor also
described the NSCIA chieftain as “a strong believer in one Nigeria and a
motivator of youths who always preached tolerance and peace at all times.”
In his condolence message issued by
his Special Adviser on Media, Hakeem Bello, the governor said Adegbite’s death
was “painful and a sad loss to the nation.”
Fashola described the late Adegbite
as “a straightforward, honest and courageous personality who spoke the truth at
all times.”
He said Adegbite “was an apostle of
peaceful co-existence whose religious convictions were not in doubt but who
nonetheless epitomised the peaceful essence of the Islamic religion till be
breathed his last.
Condoling with family members, the
government and people of Ogun State, Fashola prayed for the repose of the
departed NSCIA chieftain’s soul.
Also commenting on Adegbite’s demise,
deputy NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said, “Baba was an
academician, a lawyer, a religious leader, a political figure, the whole
religious community would surely miss him.”
Oloyede, who is also the Executive
Secretary of Nigeria Inter Religious Council added, “It was painful that we
lost him. The religious community in Nigeria would surely miss him.”
Adegbite, who was a Commander of the
Order of the Niger, was also a director in Nigeria’s first Islamic bank, Jaiz
Bank.
He obtained a B.A. (Hons) Law from the
University of Southampton in 1962, was called to the Bar in 1965 and obtained
his PhD in 1966.
He had over 40 years experience in
legal practice at all levels and worked with diverse local and international
clientele.
He was one of the founders and the
first president of the Muslim Students Society and was an Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice in the defunct Western State.
Adegbite was Commissioner for Local
Governments and Chieftaincy Matters in the old Western Region of Nigeria during
the military administration of Brig. Oluwole Rotimi (retd.).
In October 1976, he founded the legal
firm of Lateef Adegbite & Co as the Principal Partner, with main office in
Lagos and a branch office in Abeokuta, specialising in Commercial and Corporate
Law. Adegbite was president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee from 1972 to 1985.
He was Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of
the Governing Council of the University of Maiduguri from 1984 to 1990.
Adegbite was also a member of the
Nigerian Stock Exchange; member of Council and Executive Committee of Lagos
State Chambers of Commerce and Industry; deputy president of Nigeria-Arab
Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and executive chairman of Nigerian – Arab
Association.
Adegbite, who is survived by a wife,
children and gand-children, will be