Prominent lawyer, Jonathan B. Majiyage, SAN is dead.

The news of his demise was confirmed on Saturday morning at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja.

A message circulating on various platforms among legal professionals expressed profound sadness but gratitude for a life well-lived. It announced the unfortunate passing of their beloved father and mentor, Jonathan Majiyagbe, SAN. The message requested prayers for the family and extended heartfelt wishes for his gentle soul to find eternal rest.

In a eulogy by Human Rights Activist and Law Professor, Chidi Odinkalu, Late Majiyagbe who was the first Lawyer practising in Northern Nigeria to attain the rank of Senior Advocate was a man of total decency.

He wrote, “Really saddened by news of the passing of Jonathan Majiyagbe, SAN. A man of many 1sts, Majiyagbe, who settled in Kano, became SAN in 1980, the 1st lawyer practising in #NorthernNigeria to attain it. He was also the 1st #African president of @Rotary. A man of total decency, #RIP”

Jonathan Babatunde Majiyagbe (OFR), aged 89, achieved the distinction of being the first lawyer practicing in northern Nigeria to be appointed as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1980.

Settling in Kano during the 1970s, he became a revered figure in the legal profession within the state. He also attained prominence within the Rotary Club, ultimately assuming the role of President, Rotary International. In a candid interview, he recounted his early years as a lawyer, his experiences in the North, reflections on the civil war, and various other intriguing subjects.

During a 2019 conversation with Daily Trust, he revealed, “I was born on July 10, 1934, in Lagos. I recently celebrated my 85th birthday. My father, Jacob Mofolorunsho Majiyagbe, hailed from Abeokuta, Ogun State, and my mother, Victoria Olatilewa Majiyagbe, also from Abeokuta, was a princess from the Ogunbona royal family.”

He continued, “My father was a civil servant who was frequently transferred. I accompanied him to various places, including Kaduna, Kano, Jos, and Bamenda in Cameroon. This allowed me to develop a deep familiarity with the northern region of Nigeria. Upon my graduation in England, I returned to the North.”