-Akala of Ikaram commissioned street named after him
-Commissioned borehole for Ikaram Communities
-Laid foundation for Diagnostic Clinic named after him
Ondo– Saturday 16th April 2022 will go down in the history as one of the most colorfully organized homecoming ceremonies as the good people of Ikaram Akoko, Akoko North West Local Government Area, Ondo State, South-West Nigeria hosted the retired Justice Babatunde Adejumo to a supertous homecoming celebration.
Fatai Abiodun who witnessed the event and the reception that followed, writes that it was a day glitz and rich cultural heritage of Ikaram Akoko came to the fore.
The Communities like Iyoke, Oyaju, Iyotu, Ita- Balogun, and Ayeteju that made up of the Ikaram Community were in complete jubilation as traditional rulers, elders, young, students, and children all trooped out to welcome the pragmatic jurist to a notable homecoming for one of their own that retired from the civil service in 2019.
Honourable Justice Adejumo, OFR, was born in Ikaram Akoko, Ondo State on the 1st day of October 1954 to Pa Oloniyo Adejumo and Princess Awawu Adejumo, both of blessed memory.
Justice Adejumo has a chequered early education which was a reflection of the humbleness of his background. He attended Catholic Mission School, Cantonment Lokoja in Kogi State from 1960 to 1962. Thereafter, he attended Muslim Primary School, Ikaram Akoko between 1962 to 1965.
By some divine providence, Hon. Justice Adejumo moved to Owo in Ondo State where he lived with a friend to his late father, Chief Magistrate Sawyer, who was in charge of the then Owo/Akoko Magisterial District and completed his Primary Education at St. Patrick’s Primary school in 1966.
It is remarkable to note that Honourable Justice Adejumo, OFR never had secondary education. He relocated to Lagos in 1969 and was an apprentice shoemaker between 1969 and 1972. He started his own shoe-making business/profession upon his return to Owo in 1973.
This unassuming but quintessential man of destiny was recruited into the Nigerian Prison Service as a warder cum shoemaker in 1973. It was by virtue of this employment that he attended Prison’s Training School, Ogbete in Enugu State, and received the baton of honours as the best all-around student.
Propelled by an undying thirst to be educated and while still serving as a Prison Warder at Abeokuta, he wrote and passed the entrance examination to Ansarudeen Teachers’ Training College, Ota, Ogun State in 1978. His Lordship sat for GCE O-level and passed In 1979 and GCE A-Level in 1981 which qualified him to be admitted into the University of Ile-Ife Now Obafemi Awolowo University to study Law in 1982. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws Hons. (LL.B) Degree in 1985 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986.
His Lordship, Honourable Justice Adejumo, started his Legal Career in the chambers of J. Osuolale Ojo Esq. (of blessed memory) between 1986 and 1991.
In 1992, Honourable Justice BabatundeAdejumo, OFR forayed into the world of politics, he was elected as Hon. Member of the House of Assembly representing Akoko North West Constituency in the old Ondo State House of Assembly. Then, Ekiti State was under Ondo State.
A major milestone was attained in his blossoming judicial career when he was appointed the President of the National Industrial Court on the 14th of April, 2003 by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR and was sworn in by the then Chief Justice of Nigerian Hon. Justice M. L. Uwais GCON, on 5th of May, 2003.
Lucidly, It became obvious to him that to achieve both his long and short term, the enabling laws need to be reviewed, especially the principal laws. Justice Adejumo mobilized his team and moved into action and eventually on the 31st day of May 2006, the National Assembly passed the National Industrial Court Act 2006.
The Act was assented to by the then President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on the 14th of June 2006 and the act gave exclusive jurisdiction to the Court and conferred jurisdiction with respect to labour and industrial relations matters as a superior Court of record.
There was a celebration in the court, which never lasted because of the constitutional albatross contesting the court’s superiority within the gamut of laws then.
Justice Adejumo recapitulated and moved back to National Assembly, any person who understands, the rigorous political contour and its mechanism in Nigeria especially that of the National Assembly and the states Houses of Assembly can imagine the stressful energy dissipated by his lordship and his team to lecture the legislature to understand their predicament.
Like a film trick, the constitutional albatross hanging over the Court’s neck was eventually unshackled with the passage of the (Third Alteration) Act, 2010. His Excellency, the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, assented to the Bill on the 4th Day of March 2011.
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria is thus the first court to be included in any Nigerian Constitution by a democratically elected Legislature.
Justice Babatunde Adejumo retired in 2019 after reaching the mandatory age of retirement for the judicial officer of his status and was succeeded by Hon. Justice Benedict Kanyip, PhD
The celebrant, Retired Justice Babatunde Adejumo took time to pay homage to all the communities where he commissioned boreholes constructed for the populace, and also inspected a road named after him by the Akoko North West Local government.
He also laid the foundation for the Diagnostic Centre to be named after him at the Primary Health Care Centre, Ikaram.
From Ita-Balogun to Ayeteju, through Iyotu to Oyaju, to Iyoke, vehicular and human traffic was the first sign that gave the indigenes the feeling that the retired Justice is back home.
Aside from vehicular and human traffic that besieged the entire community, entertainers and traditional dance and students’ parades added glamour to the historic event.
As early as 10.00 am, the entire environment was cordoned off to avoid a stampede. To protect the lives and properties of dignitaries and indigenes, local security personnel- called Amotekun and men of the Nigeria Police, Civil Defense, DSS, and Nigeria Army took positions in strategic places and the Road Safety Officials performed what they know how to do best.
The traditional rulers, top government functionaries, top business chiefs, and members of the diplomatic corps trooped into the venue of the homecoming ceremony. Among the traditional rulers present were, Akala of Ikaram Land, Oba Andrew Oba Andrew Momodu; Olubaram of Ibaram, Oba Olusegun Atibioke; Zaki of Arigbindin Land, Oba Yisa Olanipekun; Olukare of Ikare land, Oba Akadir Momoh; and Ologbaji of Igbagiland and their respective Chiefs.
Others are the former minister of Labour and Productivity, Prince Ademola Adetokunbo, the Chief registrar of Industrial Court, Olurotimi Williams Daudu, Director of Admin (Training) Olubunmi, and many notable sons and daughters of Ikaram land.
In his goodwill message, the Akala of Ikaram, Momoh Osona described the celebrant, Justice Babatunde Adejumo Rtd as a fine gentleman and a true son of the Soil and a humble personality who has positively impacted the community.
In his remarks, the president of Ikaram Progressive Union, Odomode Ololade Adeyemi Opemipo described the homecoming celebration as historic and the community’s perfect gift to one of their worthy sons who made the community proud while in service.
In the same vein, the Chief Registrar of the Industrial Court, Mr. Olurotimi Daudu described the homecoming as a perfect gift to someone who has made the community, state, and Nigeria in general proud for his sterling, untainted, unblemished and meritorious service to the nation.
With the personalities in attendance, one can easily conclude that retired Justice Adejumo is a rare gem and special gift to the nation. We prayed to God Almighty to grant him peace, long life and prosperity.
