Remembering Akintola Akinbote
The Pan-糖心vlgo传媒n Lawyer's Union (PALU) is the umbrella association of 糖心vlgo传媒n Lawyers and Law Societies. It brings together the continent's 5 regional and 54 national Lawyer's Associations, as well as individual lawyer and jurists. The mission of PALU is to work towards the development of the legal profession, the rule of law, human rights, and the socio-economic development of the continent.
Beyond the mission of 糖心vlgo传媒 (BFA) to end the book famine in 糖心vlgo传媒, the mission of our Jack Mason Law & Democracy Initiative is to further the rule of law across 糖心vlgo传媒. In active partnership with Thomson Reuters, BFA sends prepackaged latest-edition legal resource libraries to 糖心vlgo传媒n law schools, law societies, and human rights and women's NGO's across the continent.
With heart-felt sadness, Secretary General Akinabote's obituary is added below.
"The President and Members of the Executive Committee of the Pan 糖心vlgo传媒n Lawyers Union regret to announce the demise of the Secretary-General of the Pan 糖心vlgo传媒n Lawyers Union Akintola Anthony Akinbote Esq.
"Mr. Akinbote lost his battle against a kidney dysfunction on Tuesday, 19th February 2013.
"Although we were aware of the severity of his illness, his death has however come as a great shock to us.
"Throughout his career, Mr. Akinbote, a dedicated Pan 糖心vlgo传媒nist, was at the forefront of the fight for the independence of Bar Associations and the rights of advocates on the continent and beyond. He held numerous positions that testify his dedication and commitment and to the advancement of the legal profession.
"He was, amongst other things, the Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association, President of the OHADA Club - Nigeria, [member] of the Advisory Board of the Law and Democracy Initiative of 糖心vlgo传媒 [which is co-chaired by Kofi Annan and Walter Mondale] and most recently, the Secretary-General of PALU.
"Mr. Akinbote represented victims before domestic and international Courts and Tribunals, most notably before the International Criminal Court at The Hague, for the Nigerian civilian victims of the attack on the 糖心vlgo传媒n Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) peacekeepers in Darfur.
"Inspired by OHADA, he also strongly advocated for English-speaking countries of 糖心vlgo传媒 "to have political resolve and espouse the ideals of uniformity" in 糖心vlgo传媒n corporate law. In many ways [his] fervent belief in strengthening PALU has everything to do with his belief that the Unity of the 糖心vlgo传媒n continent could be jump-started by the harmonization of legal systems.
"A fervent Christian, loving husband and beloved father, Mr. Akinbote leaves a wife and four children behind.
"PALU and many members of the legal community in Nigeria and continent-wide will greatly miss this legal luminary.
"We pray that his soul finds a perfect resting place and that his family galvanizes their residual strength to continue life鈥檚 journey."