Justice Kayode Esho Dies In London

Following the death of Alhaji Lam Adesina and Dr Olusola Saraki, Nigeria has lost another eminent personality in Justice Kayode Eso who died this morning at the age of 87.
Family sources disclosed that he died in London this morning.
His son, Olumide Esho confirmed that Justice Eso died at the Hammersmith Hospital in London today.
Justice Eso since the beginning of this year had stayed more in the UK than Nigeria. He only returned home in October to receive his country’s belated honor, Commander of the Order of the Niger. Eso was also decorated last December by civil society groups in Lagos, with the honor of the Defender of Anti-corruption.
Speaking affectionately about his father, Olumide described him as a very resolute man and a wonderful father.
He said Justice Eso committed his entire life to the “goodness of Nigeria and the people around him. Above all, he was an adventurer”. Justice Bobakayode Eso was born on September 18, 1925 at Ilesa, in Osun State, Nigeria.
He proceeded to Trinity College, Dublin where he graduated with a Bachelor of Law with Hons Degree in Legal Science in 1953 and a Masters in 1956.
A fearless and Courageous Judge, some of Justice Eso’s celebrated landmark judgements speak for themselves, for example;
-The mystery gunman case, which is the trial of Wole Soyinka over his role in a broadcast which the government of the defunct western region of Nigeria termed offensive. Justice Eso returned a verdict of not guilty on Soyinka, and shortly after the judgement, he was transferred from Ibadan to Akure, then regarded as a rural station;
- The celebrated case of Chief Obafemi Awolowo Vs Alhaji Shehu Shagari, in 1979 will forever remain green in Nigeria’s jurisprudence. The Apex Court in deciding the law relating to election cases had by a majority of 6-1, affirmed the election of Alhaji Shagari as duly elected President. However, the courageous decision of Justice Eso in this case remains legendary. In his dissent opinion, Justice Eso held that at least two-third of 19 states could only be 13 and not 12 2/3
The father of judicial activism received several Awards and University honours too numerous to mention. He was a Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). He received LL.D honoris Causa, University of Ibadan: 1990, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka: 2001, respectively.