Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice

Over 50 years at the BAR, Kehinde Sofola witnessed the birth and nutured the development of the Nigerian legal profession. A believer in equality before the law, he represented a variety of clients from different walks of life.

I received with great shock and sad news the demise of the sage and legal icon, Chief Kehinde Sofola, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. There is no doubt that his demise is a great loss not only to the legal profession but also to the entire country. I do not have the words that can adequately convey to you the depth of my sympathy over the painful loss of the patriarch.

Secretary, National Judiciary Council

Late Chief Kehinde Sofola, SAN, led a remarkable life replete in integrity and honour. He would for a long time be remembered for his invaluable contribution not only to the legal profession his forte, where he was an icon but also to humanity. As one of the few earliest set of legal luminaries to attain the privileged rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1978, he later served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice in the Second Republic. For us Staff and Management of the National Judicial Council where he served as an invaluable Member, we shall miss his advice and counseling generally. Heaven, it is said, blazes forth the death of princes. Little wonder his passing away is still resonating in the Nigerian Legal community and the Nation at large. Although his death is very painful, we, along with millions of well meaning Nigerians, urge you to take solace in the inevitability of death and in the fact that you had such an accomplished and consummate legal giant as a father.

Administrator, National Judicial Institute

Though sudden, one is consoled by the fact that the departure of Papa at a very ripe and fruitful age of 83 years, is indeed a celebration of life. Papa to the glory of God, had led a fulfilled life. He was fearless, forthright and a veritable legal luminary of impeccable integrity who contributed immensely to the development of our jurisprudence. Our law reports are replete with exploits of his forensic advocacy. He was one of the most highly principled and consistent legal luminary I had ever met. Indeed, Papa has left his golden legal foot-prints on the sands of time.

Deputy Director-General, Council of Legal Education

We recall with relish Papa’s eventful tenure as Chairman, Body of Benchers and his unflinching support for the Nigerian Law School as a Life Bencher. It is on record that he dutifully attended Law Dinners at the School; and most times the first to arrive. That was a level of commitment to the course of Legal Education that cannot be easily surpassed. He was the quintessential lawyer.

General Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association

The Nigerian Bar Association led by the President Olisa Agbakoba SAN wishes to commiserate with you for the loss of this highly revered and most accomplished Legal Practitioner whose unrivaled contributions to the development of the Legal Profession will remain indelible in our minds. It is not in dispute that until his death, he was the foremost practicing Senior Advocate of Nigeria, being one of the four greats in the history of the legal practice in Nigeria. He lived a most rewarding and fulfilling life; his death has created a very big vacuum in legal practice that will be extremely difficult to fill.

Country Vice President, International Federation of Women Lawyers

Nigeria and indeed the legal profession have suffered the great loss of one of her titans. Chief Sofola was a father, mentor and role model to many with and outside the legal profession. FIDA Nigeria found in him a great supporter

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria

A legal luminary has been lost.  He was a man of principle, hardwork and integrity.  May his soul rest in peace and may Allah grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Legal Practitioner

Forthright and faithful to the end, may his kind soul find favour with Allah (SWA) and may he rest in Aljanat Firdaus, Amen.

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria

Great loss to legal profession.  We however thank Allah for His mercies in giving him to the profession.  He will be greatly missed.  May Allah reward him with Aljannatu Firdaus Amen.

An exceptional good friend and mentor.  A fearless and indefatigable advocate, impeccable honesty and integrity.  May his soul rest in peace.

Governor-Elect, Lagos State

A great leader of our nation and the bar has fulfilled the contract of mortality.  He will be sorely missed.  He stood for the truth, discipline and all the finest traditions of the Bar.  May Allah grant him Aljanah Fidaus.

Rest in peace.  A man of integrity and a committed friend.  Eternal Rest in the Lord.

Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission

We thank Almighty Allah that our father lived a life worth of emulation and appreciation. He will ever be remembered for his honest and just services to the country as a distinguished Legal Icon. I urge you to find solace in Him and be consoled by the good works our late father performed on earth which have attracted encomiums to the family of the Sofolas.

Former Minister of Justice, Acting Foreign Minister & Senator of Jordan

It is with the utmost sorrow that we received the news about the death of a great Lawyer and a humanitarian who set an example in his professional life that shall remain to guide lawyers and legal practitioners for years to come.

We have known the late Advocate Kehinde Sofola for many years and we were struck by his dedication to his work and the high standard he set for himself.  As to his relations with his friends and clients, he was a person to be relied upon, to be trusted and his clients always felt that he generated cooperation and trust in the law, in their case and in him as a distinguished and sincere Advocate in presenting their case.

As to his family they have so much of his memory to be proud of especially his son Kayode who was close to him.  Indeed he left to his family a path of distinguished honesty, sincerity and ability that they should be proud of.

May God bless his soul.

Professor of Law & Former Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University

We shall miss your frank but objective wisdom as a leader of the Bar and an opinion leader of Nigeria.  Please rest in peace.  The labourer’s task is over.

We were sad to hear of the passing away of your beloved father and also, one of the most respected lawyers that Nigeria ever had, Chief Kehinde Sofola, SAN.

However, we are consoled by the fact that while Papa was alive he led a good and exemplary life, and as such, we are confident that he is presently lying in the bosom of his Creator.

Life Bencher, Former Chairman Body of Benchers

You must feel his loss deeply as his natural son but I assure you that to many of us it’s a great loss as we considered him a father to us all.

Your late father was a colossus.  He was a shining example of a lawyer and statesman worthy of emulation and respect.

Papa was a man of great ability and discipline whom we all loved but feared.

My personal sadness is in the fact that his breed has all but died out but like you, I take comfort in the life that he lived and his legacy of scholarship and uprightness in Islam and the legal profession.

Legal Practitioner

The great loss to humanity is a bigger gain to the celestial world to which he now belongs in company of those great souls that have crossed over.

May Allah accept his genial soul, forgive him his sins, count him among those He chooses to bless and reward him with a place in ALJANAT.

Legal Practitioner & Chancellor, University of Lagos

He was a great man who lived a fulfilled life.  He was also one of the foremost legal luminaries in Nigeria.

The death of your father came to me as very sad news.  The reason for this can not be hard to find as he was a great and remarkable man whom all lawyers in my generation looked up to.

Indeed, he was one of the pace-setters in the legal profession in Nigeria.

Please, accept my condolence for this loss, which I confess, is a big blow to the legal profession throughout the entire legal world.