The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has described the late Chief Richard Akinjide as one of the finest in Nigeria’s legal practice.

The NBA stated this while commiserating with family, friends and associates of the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), who died on Tuesday in Ibadan.

National Assistant Publicity Secretary of the association, Akorede Lawal, in a statement, quoted the NBA President, Paul Usoro (SAN) as describing the deceased as a brilliant advocate and one of the finest of the legal profession.

Usoro, who said he received the news of Akinjide’s death “with grave regret,” noted that the deceased contributed to the mileages of legal profession in the country.

“Chief Akinjide (SAN) was called to the English Bar in 1955 and the Nigerian Bar subsequently.

“He was steeped in the ethics of the Bar, a brilliant advocate – one of the finest of the legal profession. His place in the history of the Nigerian legal profession is well secured.

 “Chief Richard Akinjide was a renowned leader of politics and thoughts. He was a Federal Minister of Education in the First Republic and he was Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister for Justice in the Second Republic.

“Chief Akinjide’s contributions to the Bar as President between 1970 and 1973 were immense.

“And until his demise, he was always on hand as the oldest member of the exclusive “Former NBA Presidents Group” that the NBA President, Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN often consulted on important issues concerning the legal profession. Chief Akinjide would be sorely missed.