Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, OFR
Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, OFR is a native of Ikaramu-Akoko Ondo State, born on October 1, 1954. He attended the prestigious University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Ile-Ife Osun State and obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) in 1985. He was called to the Nigerian Bar and subsequently enrolled as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1986. Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, OFR started his career as a legal practitioner in the Law Firm of J. Osuolale Ojo & Co from October 17, 1986 to January 1992.
Quintessentially, In January 1992, His Lordship was elected as a Parliamentarian into the House of Assembly of the Old Ondo State where he was till November 1993. As a lawmaker, His Lordship was productive, courageous, prolific and selfless. He defended the collective interest of the people with rare passion and uncommon competency. It is little wonder then that Honourable Babatunde Adejumo (as he then was), emerged as the Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions and promoted the interest of the Ondo State Judiciary using his good offices as the Chairman House Committee on the Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions.
As a lawmaker, his contributions to issues bordering on strengthening of democracy and humanity were always interesting, deeply original, incisive, thoughtful, imaginative and illuminating. As a team worker and distinguish honorable member works along with his colleagues relentlessly to make sure that Ondo State was included among the oil producing States of Nigeria.
Hon. Justice B.A. Adejumo, OFR as a lawmaker had the singular honour of moving the motion for the approval of speaking of Ebgeri language in the State’s own radio and television stations. This marked him out as a quintessential unifying figure.
Upon the termination of civil rule in 1993, Hon. Justice Adejumo, OFR served as a Chief Magistrate from 1993 – 1995 at the Ikere Magisterial District in the old Ondo State. On December 21, 1995, he was appointed a Deputy Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He held this position till 1998. As the Deputy Chief Registrar, Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, OFR had the honour of serving as the Secretary, Advisory Judicial Committee as well as Secretary to the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee from 1995– 1998. Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, OFR was appointed as a Judge in the Ondo State Judiciary on November 5, 1998.
However, on a path to reposition our Nation Judiciary for greatness and also In tandem equitable, fair and impactful justices system, My Lord, Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, OFR was appointed the President of the National Industrial Court on the 14th of April, 2003 and sworn in on May 5, 2003. This is the position he occupies till date.
Furthermore, many positive reactions trailed his nomination after the ministerial appearance at the senate; some opined and described him as one of the stars of Judiciary. While some described him is the best man for the job not because of his efficiency in judicial system, efficacy in justices and fairness, and the enormous achievements recorded in the course of his career.
Furthermore, many positive reactions trailed her nomination after the ministerial appearance at the senate; some opined and described him as one of the stars of Judiciary. While some described him is the best man for the job not because of his efficiency in judicial system, efficacy in justices and fairness, and the enormous achievements recorded in the course of his career.
Essentially, at the process of kick-starting the mighty task bestowed on him, My Lord, Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, OFR, assured Nigeria and Nigerians of best judicial revolution, fairness and equitable justices system the fairness and justice and upholding the constitution of the land.
My Lord, Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, OFR is the type who doesn’t believe in making noise but always maintain the mantra of, let the achievements do the talking. he belongs to the school of thought that every positive development is an improvement.
National Industrial Court of Nigeria has witnessed mighty turn around through a combination of dynamic vision, hardwork, foresight, forthrightness, integrity, honesty of purpose and confidence-inspiring leadership style of My Lord, Hon. Justice Adejumo, OFR.
Prior to his resumption as the President of the Court, its staff strength was 123 but today the staff strength has risen astronomically to about 1,500. In 2003, the Court had barely 6 graduates in its employment, but through the visionary and dynamic leadership acumen of My Lord, Hon Justice Adejumo, OFR, the National Industrial Court has more to 200 graduates in its staff-fold.
In 2003, when Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, OFR resumed as the President of the National Industrial Court, the Court had its Headquarters in a poorly maintained and hardly habitable twin-duplex at Ojuolobun, Victoria Island, Lagos. The other office in Abuja was also dilapidated and in shambles but today, it is to the credit of Hon. Justice Adejumo, that the NICN now has 14 Judicial Divisions across the country. Eight of these Judicial Divisions have modern, state of the art, aesthetically attractive Court Complexes that meet international standards in terms of infrastructure and facilities. It is also gratifying to note that a huge architecturally imposing Headquarters of the Court in Abuja is under construction and to be commission soon.
One other area for which a cross section of Nigerians whether in the judiciary, academia or industry will always remember My Lord, Hon. Justice Adejumo, OFR for, is the way and manner he has affected the legal regime and jurisprudence in the areas of employment, labour and industrial relations. From 2003 till date, the legal firmament of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria has witnessed amazing evolutionary transformation. In 2006, Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo, OFR did the unprecedented and moved the National Assembly to enact the National Industrial Court Act, 2006 as the enabling law of the National Industrial Court. This was regarded then as an alluring milestone by stakeholders in the labour and industrial relations sector. However, despite this feat, My Lord did not rest on his oars but was rather convinced that the inclusion of the Court in the Constitution as a superior court of record was the permanent panacea to the cacophony of problems and controversies bedeviling the Court. This conviction was reinforced in February 2010 when the Supreme Court of Nigeria decided that the National Industrial Court of Nigeria was an inferior court of record.
In His characteristic manner however, Hon. Justice B.A. Adejumo, OFR took this morale-dampening development in his strides and pursued the amendment of the 1999 Constitution with an historic patriotic zeal, passion, determination, selflessness, energy and exemplary commitment. The rest is now success history as the 1999 Constitution has been amended to establish the National Industrial Court of Nigeria as a superior court of record. Now, our respected Guest Lecturer of today, Emeritus Professor of Law, D. A. Ijalaye, SAN and some of the finest legal minds gathered here will agree with me that this legal transformation of the Court is bound to alter in more ways than one, our jurisprudence and pristine knowledge in the areas of employment, labour and industrial relations.
In a nuthell, this unassuming, humble, loveable, likeable, kindhearted and extremely visionary and cerebral jurist has transformed the Court from obscurity to global limelight. Hon. Justice Adejumo, OFR has almost single-handedly turned the National Industrial Court of Nigeria from what was derisively though factually called a “dead end” into a living end flowing and basking in the waters of continued reformation. My Lord as a team player is always quick to acknowledge the contributions of his brother Judges, the Chief Registrar and other staffs of the Court to the remaking of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
While congratulating My Lord on the inclusion of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in the 1999 Constitution, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, a former Deputy Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wrote thus, “The successful establishment of the National Industrial Court as a superior court of record speaks volumes. Firstly, it is historic because this is the first time that an individual has pursued a cause that led to the successful alteration of the entire nation’s constitution…Secondly, it is a victory for determination and ruggedness in pursuing a cause one religiously believes in…Fourthly, your dedication to duty and what is best for your profession qualifies you to go into Guinness Book of Record…”
