Fapohunda: The Making of a Silk.

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Tall, straight, deep-piercing eyes and a swagger that portrays someone confident in his shoes will be the first impression of this Okemesi-Ekiti Lawyer, who today has again raised the bar in the Fapohunda’s book of achievements.


His Father, Olusola Fapohunda was the first Commissioner from Okemesi-Ekiti. Olawale is a two term Attorney-General and today has become the first Lawyer from Okemesi-Ekiti to attain the much-coveted title of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).  A Privilege conferred on persons who have exceptionally contributed to the growth and development of law and practice in Nigeria. 


Over the years, Olawale Fapohunda has proved to be an agent of social re-engineering, demonstrated a high level of professionalism and integrity. In the words of an eminent Jurist, “Fapohunda’s contribution to the reform of the justice sector in Nigeria is simply breath-taking. It will be difficult if not impossible to find one person with imprints in all areas of the administration of justice system”. 


A cursory look at his resume affirms the phrase, “the facts speak for itself".



JUDICIAL REFORM


• Chair, Technical Committee, Presidential Committee on the Review of Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service 


• Legal Draftsman, Pension Rights of Ekiti State Judicial Officers (Transfer of Responsibility  & Administration) Law, 2020


• Legal Draftsman, Magistrates Court Law, 2014, Ekiti State



LEGISLATIVE REFORM


Legal Draftsman:


• Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015


• Administration of Criminal Justice Law, Ekiti State, 2014


• Administration of Civil Justice Law, Ekiti State, 2019


• Anti-Torture Act, 2017


• Child Rights Act, 2003


• Compulsory Treatment and Care of Child Victims of Sexual Violence Law, 2020


• Correctional Services Act, 2020


• Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law, Ekiti State, 2020


• Legal Aid Council of Nigeria Act, 2004


• National Human Rights Commission Act, 2010


• Police Act, 2021


• Victims of Crime Law, Ekiti State, 2021


• Office of the Attorney Generals Law, 2021


• Supervised review of the Laws of Ekiti State 



POLICY CHANGE


• Established the Ministry of Justice Academy (First in Nigeria)


• Established Register of Sex Offenders Ekiti State (First in Nigeria)


• Published Victims Charter – A Policy Statement for Victims of Crime



IN EKITI STATE


• Published Attorney-General’s Guidelines on Plea Bargain


• Published Prosecutors Guidelines for prosecutors in the Ministry of Justice, Ekiti State    


• Facilitated the establishment of Human Rights Desks in all Nigerian Army formations in Nigeria.


 

INSTITUTIONAL REFORM


• Member, Governing Council, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria


• Member, Presidential Committee on Prison Decongestion


• Vice-Chair, Federal Government Committee on the Prevention of Torture


• Co-Chair, Presidential Committee on the first physical audit of all the 234 prisons in Nigeria.  


• Secretary, Presidential Committee on Administration of Justice Reform


• Secretary, Presidential Committee on the Review of Death Penalty



MILITARY JUSTICE REFORM


• Chair, Nigeria Military Human Rights Dialogue


• Member, Nigerian Army Special Board of Inquiry on Human Rights Violations


• Member, Judicial Commission on the Review of Compliance of the Nigerian Armed Forces with Human Rights obligations and Rules of Engagement



OTHER AFFILIATIONS


• Adviser (Administration of Justice Reform), Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister for Justice 1999-2021


• Two term Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission


• Expert Adviser/ Chairman, Police Act Review Committee


• Expert Adviser/ Chairman, Prison Act Review Committee    


• Member Steering Committee, National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (NAP) in Nigeria


• Lead Adviser, Access to Justice Programme, Department for international Development UK


• Lead Adviser/ Consultant, European Union Administration of Justice Project. 


As succinctly captured in his philosophy, Fapohunda’s life vision is about adding value to lives and systems. "All my life, it's about making a difference to people's lives, making a difference in my environment. Making a difference means continuous search for knowledge and best practice and will go to the sahara desert for either."


Recognising the developmental strides required to translate potentials to realities, and driven by uncommon quest for excellence, Fapohunda has provided purposeful commitment to the personal development lawyers under his leadership. Within the period of his stewardship as Attorney-General of Ekiti, many lawyers have accessed several professional advancement opportunities that was once thought to be exclusive to the high and mighty. He is clearly, a committed people-builder. 


Fapohunda has demonstrated hard work, humility and goal-getting in his professional life, securing an enviable image for Ekiti State through his professional excellence. In a society filled with public officials with prebendalistic disposition to public office, it is gratifying to identify conscientious monolithic legal minds with a track record of dazzling reformist approach to public service. Indeed, the words of the King Sunny Ade holds true that, “Bibi’re o se fowo ra”


For this legal reformist, his elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is a well-deserved honour!


Rasheed Adeyemi writes from Okemesi-Ekiti, Nigeria.

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