By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Oyewale Adeyeye, is dead.
Though it was gathered that he breathed his last on Monday night, details of his death as of press time were sketchy
There are reports that the legal luminary died after a brief illness.
Adeyeye spent over three years in the saddle as the Chief Judicial Officer of Ekiti as he was sworn in by former governor Kayode Fayemi on October 11, 2021.
A statement issued by the Chief Registrar of Ekiti State Judiciary, Adegoke Olanike, on Tuesday confirmed the death of Adeyeye.
In a similar statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Oba Olayiwola Michael, she noted that the late Chief Judge was a respected jurist who dedicated his life to upholding the principle of fairness, equity and justice.
“His contribution to the development of the judiciary and Ekiti State at large are immeasurable and his legacy will be deeply missed. Further details will be announced in due course.”
Last year, Justice Adeyeye landed in a hospital after a section of the state high court complex collapsed on him while in the office.
No life was lost during the collapse but the Chief Judge reportedly sustained serious injury. There are speculations that Adeyeye might have died from complications arising from injuries sustained during the incident.
The late Chief Judge was born in 1960. Adeyeye’s journey in the legal field spanned decades. He joined the legal profession in 1986 after being called to the bar.
His career began as a state counsel in the civil service of old Ondo State before he moved to Ekiti in 1996, where he became part of the Judiciary Service Commission.
He was elevated to the Ekiti State High Court bench in 2002