A corporate lawyer cum businessman, Christopher Oladipo Ogunbanjo is dead. He died age 99, two months before he clocks 100 years.
He death was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by his family.
The statement also reads, “Papa was an unwavering beacon of reassurance, courage and moral integrity for the entire family, truly embodying dedication and service to his country”.
The legal icon died on Saturday, October 7.
“Information regarding his obsequies, the venue for condolence visits and visiting hours will be shared by the family in due course,” the family said.
Reports say the deceased was an Ijebu High Chief, who once partnered former premier of Western Nigeria, Ladoke Akintola.
Ogunbanjo was born in the Erunwon-Ijebu area in Ogun into the Christian family of Daniel Ogunbanjo and Madam Towobola on December 14, 1923.
He attended St. Phillips primary school, Aiyetoro, Ile-Ife before proceeding to Oduduwa college, Ife for his secondary education in 1936.
In 1938, he moved to Igbobi college in Lagos where he completed his secondary education.
Ogunbanjo obtained a law degree in 1949 at the University of London and was called to the bar in 1950.
He began his legal practice in 1950 as a partner in a law firm then known as Samuel, Chris & Michael, with Ladoke Akintola and Michael Odesanya as the other partners.
After the dissolution of the partnership in 1960, he created Chris Ogunbanjo & Co, a commercial law firm which became a legal training ground for many successful lawyers in Nigeria.
Ogunbajo was married to Hilda Adunola Ladipo until her death in August 2004.
