Professor Olawoyin, SAN Passes On

The Nigerian legal community has again lost an erudite member with the passage of Professor Gabriel Olawoyin, SAN. His demise was announced by the Secretariat of the Body of Senior Advocates (BOSAN) on Saturday morning, February 13, 2021.

In a statement signed by BOSAN Secretary, Mr. Seyi Sowemimo, SAN he stated: ‘Olawoyin SAN was born on the 31st of July, 1939 (82 years old) and was called into the Nigerian Bar in 1975. At the Nigerian Law School, he emerged as the candidate with the best overall performance, winning three of the four prizes awarded by the School.

‘He attended the London School of Economics & Political Science (University of London), where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees respectively in 1965 and 1966. He later obtained his PhD degree in Company Law from the University of Bristol in 1970.

‘Professor Gabriel Olawoyin taught Business Law, Company Law, Law of Insurance, Commercial Law, Nigerian Legal System, Law of Banking and Negotiable Instruments, Constitutional Law, Non-Marine Insurance Law and Law of Corporate Management and Finance at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University – OAU, Ile-Ife) from 1966 to 1981. In May 1978, he was appointed Professor of Business Law in the then University of Ife and he had the distinction of being the first Nigerian Professor of Business Law.

‘In 1981, he retired from teaching in the University to go into full-time legal practice as the Principal Partner in the law firm of Olawoyin & Olawoyin. He played a leading role in the introduction and development of equipment leasing by Banks and other financial institutions in Nigeria.

‘He was a member of the Council of Equipment Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN). In 1992, he was appointed a member of the study group on legal issues relating to the privatisation and commercialisation of Government enterprises. In September, 1998 he was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and has been a member of the ICC, International Court of Arbitration in Paris, France since May, 2000.

Professor Gabriel Olawoyin, SAN is survived by his wife, children, including Dr. Adewale Olawoyin, SAN and grandchildren.’

Further information on the funeral arrangements of our departed colleague will be communicated, as soon as we receive the details from the family

THISDAY Lawyer had the privilege of featuring Professor Olawoyin in our Cover Personality interview on a number of occasions, the last being 2019.

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