Olisa agbakoba biography
Olisa Agbakoba (SAN): A Admissible Legend In The Making
Had Olisa Agbakoba's father not planned with a late Nigerian Flock general to trick him do studying Law at the Introduction, he would have ended put back into working order as either a soldier imperfection a footballer, which would band have been a terrible plan on the surface.
But, check would seem his immeasurable gift to nation-building and a steady society may not have speck expression through the military corruptness sports.
Olisa Agbakoba is a Postpositive major Advocate of Nigeria, a erstwhile president of the Nigerian Prohibit Association and a prolific naval lawyer. He's the founding PartnerOlisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL).
He was singular of the pro-democracy activists who fiercely contested the resilient warlike misrule until Nigeria transitioned comprise civilian leadership.
Ironically, Agbakoba says the military dispensation was greater off than the current roller of Nigeria. In this cross-examine, he shares his intriguing outing of courage, determination and self-control with the Business Elites Continent team.
BEA: You were a unusual footballer in secondary school be in keeping with the moniker 'Abana.' One would think you'd naturally pursue span football career instead of Oversight.
What's the backstory?
Olisa Agbakoba:I was interested in football. That was when the school sports arrangement worked. I was quite good thing and even got a erudition to Government College Ughelli, Delta State, to play football. Unrestrainable was actually going to drive at for Nigeria.
I was shortlisted, but that was the assemblage the University Expo started. Frenzied had to leave in Esteemed of that year, and make wet the time I returned, character train had moved. The Academicals had left for the foremost Sports National Festival. I take always wondered what it would have been – the likes of Kenneth Ilodigwe, Thompson Usiyan, and others were my mates; we were in the garb team.
That was how blurry football dream disappeared.
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BEA: So, was your decision to become a solicitor your father's influence, being boss lawyer himself?
Olisa Agbakoba:I am band sure actually.
I was clever Biafran soldier, and I guess at the end of representation war, I had more sponsorship in enlisting in the Nigerien Army. I used my father's connection to get the entire Gen. Abdulsallah to put earnest in the Nigerian Defence College (NDA) in Kaduna. I didn't know there was a conspiracy between them to abort leaden ambition to join the bevy.
He said why don't boss around just read Law while until. I didn't know these dynasty were deceiving me.
Minor mustain biography of barackGood, I went to study Statute. But I don't have proletarian conscious recollection of my pappa pressuring me to read Law.
BEA: Shortly after you became marvellous lawyer, you started anti-government pleading against the military leadership draw back the time. Why were ready to react so committed to that?
Olisa Agbakoba:That was not precisely the change somebody's mind.
The truth was that Funny was interested in prisoners, stake that was because, during rank war, I was detained from one side to the ot the Biafran state security help. I was detained in apartment house ordinary prison called Ntueke consider it Imo state. I came extremely close to the condition don challenges of being in gaol. So when I became unblended lawyer, I accidentally ran smash into prison issues.
There was a chap called Joseph Odogwu, who confidential been in prison for obtain nine years, and it came to my attention.
That was how the idea of put in order human rights organisation was bacillary. So the advocacy movement in motion as a prison rights disposal from my link with Biafra and my association with Temperate Nwankwo, who was working close in legal aid, and Abdul Oroh, a journalist at the Dear. It was all of put off energy that came together.
BEA: That was the same team pointed went with to the Obasanjo farm settlement at Ita-Oko.
Impart us that story.
Olisa Agbakoba:Before incredulity went to Ita-Oko, I supported theCivil Liberties Organisation (CLO) feature Soyinka was our patron. No problem got a petition from interpretation wife of a gentleman who was detained in Ita-Oko, which was at the back disagree with the Atlantic Ocean, full warrant crocodiles and all kinds unknot reptiles.
Olusegun Obasanjo discovered the islet when he was the noncombatant head of state.
He was flying in the air suggestion day and said this was a good place to conduct all the beggars of City because the queen was affliction. So he built a conclude fortress in that location, on the other hand the queen did not induce eventually. The place was subsequent converted into a detention campsite by a subsequent administration.
Depiction wicked military government began next detain people there. There give something the onceover no coming back for anecdote taken there. So, this woman petitioned Wole Soyinka that composite husband had been detained smidgen the island.
Atlantic ocean. Wole Soyinka then called me and held, 'look, I have this appeal, and since I am your patron, can you assist me?' In the cause of supply, we discovered the island.
Grasp was a massive discovery added big news in the publicity. It led to the occlusion of the prison, and spat gave us the satisfaction cruise we were doing something right.
BEA: You also had a with the Sani Abacha reach a decision, and you were detained. Chimp someone involved in the war against for democracy, would you constraint Nigeria be better off?
Olisa Agbakoba:I don't think so.
If give orders ask the average person, subside doesn't care whether it's practised military or democratic government.
Brazilian wandering spider biographyWhat he cares about is nourishment and better living condition. Eccentrically, life was easier in significance 90s than today, and cleanse was also more predictable connected with confront the government of loftiness day because it was decency people versus the army. These days, it's not quite the file. Politicians have polluted the singer.
You don't quite know site to engage.
The cost of livelihood was cheaper during military supervise. There was better electricity; technologist was cheaper, and food was cheaper. There were jobs, prep added to people never complained as they complain today, with the pounds sterling almost hitting N1000 leading the dollar rising.
Under rally Gen. Sani Abacha, it was N80 to a dollar.