BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : SIERRA LEONE JUDICIARY BIDS FAREWELL TO HON JUSTICE SAMUEL DEJOBI ADEMOSU :

BLACK               SOCIAL            HISTORY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Sierra Leone Judiciary Bids Farewell to Hon. Justice Ademosu By Aruna Turay The judiciary of Sierra Leone on Monday 14th May 2012 held a civic laying-out ceremony for the late Honourable Justice Samuel Adejobi Ademosu at the Miatta Conference Hall, Youyi Building in Freetown. The eighty (80) years old late Honourable Justice Samuel A. Ademosu was a retired Appeals Court Judge and Chairman of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), a position he held on to his death. The ceremony attracted distinguished personalities including His Worship the Mayor of the Freetown Municipality, Speaker of the House of Parliament, Government ministers, the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Members of Parliament, Councillors, Judges, Magistrates, Lawyers, personnel of the Sierra Leone Police, family members and other mourners. A family member receiving the book of condolence earlier opened by the judiciary for the late Hon. Justice Ademosu The late Hon. Justice Samuel Adejobi Ademosu was born on 28th April 1932, in Lagos, Nigeria, from a chieftaincy family of Shagamu, Ogun State to Mrs Adeola Ademosu and Mr. Tejani Ademosu. He grew up with his uncle and attained his primary and high School education at Yaba Primary School and the C.M.S Grammar School in Lagos, Nigeria. In 1959, he left Nigeria for the United Kingdom and studied Accounting. He practiced Accounting for a while with a United Kingdom (UK) accounting firm before opting for a law degree at the University of London. Cheif Justice and senior members of the Judiciary paying last respect to the late man He was admitted to the bar at the Lincolns Inn in UK, in 1964. He was called to the UK bar in 1967 and was called to Nigeria bar 1968. He returned to Nigeria and practiced as Barrister at Law. In 1970, he joined the Sierra Leone judiciary as Magistrate and was later granted Sierra Leone citizenship. He went through the ranks as Magistrate, Senior Magistrate and Principal Magistrate. Chief Justice Haja Hawa Umu Tejan Jalloh and senior members of the Judiciary at the ceremony In 1988, he was appointed High Court Judge. In 2006, he was appointed Judge of the Court of Appeal. After his retirement, he was asked to continue on contract because of his knowledge, experience and devotion to duty. Some of his most popular judgments include: Cross section of PPRC Commissioners and staff at the ceremony The State vs. Retired Corporal Foday Sabana Sankoh, former leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), the State vs. Haja Hafsatu Kabba, former Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, and the State vs. Allieu Sesay, former Commissioner General, National Revenue Authority (NRA) among others.His career in the Sierra Leone judiciary spanned a period of over forty years and retired as Justice of the Appeals Court of Sierra Leone. He was also Judge Advocate, Sierra Leone Military Court. During his service in the judiciary, he worked in all the administrative districts of Sierra Leone as magistrate and judge and excelled himself diligently in the dispensation of Justice. His dedicated service to the nation justifiably earned him a notable recognition and was honoured by the President of Sierra Leone as Grand Officer Order of the Rokel (GOOR) in 2007. Display of the corpse at the Miatta Conference Hall After ending his meritorious career in the judiciary and due to his high earned reputation of professionalism, integrity and independence he was most needed for the 2012 election; and was appointed Chairman of the Political Parties Registration Commission of Sierra Leone (PPRC) in 2011, a position he held till his death on Friday 13th April, 2012. Hon. Justice Samuel Adejobi Ademosu was a devoted family man and had eleven children. Family members singing a hymn at the ceremony Following the civic laying-out ceremony at the Youyi Building yesterday, the remains of the late man was conveyed to the Wesley Methodist Church on Lamina Sankoh Street in Freetown for funeral service. He is expected to be buried in Nigeria. His Worship the Acting Mayor of the Freetown Municipality, flanked by the Minister of Political Affairs and a senior Councillor Jam-packed mourners at the hall Laying-out at the Miatta Conference Hall