Dignitaries who honoured late Deji Sasegbon SAN., book launch poured encomium describing him as an acclaimed and respected individual who earned his strips from being consistent at what he did.
Speaking at the event which took place at MUSON Center, Thursday, the Special Guest of Honour, Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, GCON, during his remark said he was a friend with late Deji, and as a very thorough person, it was reflected in the book.
Prof. Osinbajo mentioned some of Deji’s publications, Nigerian Supreme Court Cases, Companies and Allied Matters Law and Practice, Sasegbon’s Laws of Nigeria: an Encyclopedia of Nigerian Laws and Practice, publication on Election petitions and many others.
“Deji wanted to be the first to publish a comprehensive report on the Supreme Court cases and achieved that.
“Also his contribution for online reporting, as a pioneer, brought great results in that area.
“The book, with over 150,000 terms as rendered by the Supreme Court was an indispensable tool to the legal profession, he added.
He ended his remark by saying Deji had positively touched the lives of so many. He gave to the needy and contributed so much to the legal profession in Nigeria.
He further said that his joy was that Deji found the Lord Jesus Christ before died and so he is confident that he is in peace wherever he is.
The chairman of the occasion, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, OFR called for a one minute silence in honour of the late Deji Sasegbon SAN.
During his address, Chief Olanipekun SAN described the late Deji Sasegbon as a dogged and rugged lawyer, brilliant, forensic, determined, illustrious, painstaking in going to the minute details, bringing to the fore, the nitty-gritty of the law and publishing them.
He said Deji’s commitment to the law profession was enormous and he needed to be honoured. Even while he was sick, he displayed his humane personality by still going to court for a client. Through Deji’s work, many lawyers made so much money and so there was a need for personal financial commitment to his family by lawyers.
Prof. Koyinsola Ajayi, SAN, had the privilege of reviewing the book. He said the book is long in wisdom as Deji.
“With this book, lawyers no longer need to refer to foreign text as the book covered every aspect of the law.
“Having 7 volumes and containing 2000 words and phrases, it was a complete statement of the entire body of the Nigerian Legal environment, he added.
He continued by saying how diligent Deji was in his ability to gather data for the book even in the difficult way it is to get data in the country.
He said late Deji was able to define with clarity, the word Jurisdiction in the book- a word having over 130 definitions.
He recommended the books for every practicing lawyer, National Libraries, courts, for regulations, etc. He recommended Deji be given a posthumous National Award.
He pointed out that the book not having too many references of the high court cases was an error.
During the media chat, human rights activist, Femi Falana SAN., said Deji Sasegbon’s Books are reference materials for all lawyers. He appreciated his wife, Chief Oge Sasegbon for all the sacrifices she made in order to complete his work.
Unveiling of the Book the Vice President was joined by Chief Oge Sasegbon, Chief Emeka Ngige, the Chief judge of Lagos represented by Hon. Justice Oshodi, Mr. Adekola Olawole SAN, AG and Commissioner for Justice Ondo State, Mr. Femi Falala SAN, Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN, AG and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court represented by Hon. Justice Faji, Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, CFR, JSC, Representative of the Chief judge of Delta State, Representative of the President of the National Industrial Court.
Other dignitaries at the event include Chairman of the Council on Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige SAN, who also wrote the forward of the book, J.K. Gadzama SAN, Tunde Coker SAN, The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court represented by Hon. Justice Faji, Lucius Nwosu SAN, Dapo Akinosun, Attorney General of Oyo State Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, and so many others.