Idowu Sofola

Background

SOFOLA, Idowu was born on September 29, 1934 in Ikenne, Ogun State. Son of late Chief Sanni Sofola and Chief Salamotu Sofola.

Education

Holborn College of Law, London, England (1962). Council of Legal Education, London, England (1962). Spoken languages: English and Yoruba.

Career

He was formerly the Chairman of the Nigerian Body of Benchers. He was enrolled at Saint Saviour"s School, Ikenne in 1945 for his primary education. Upon completion of his secondary school education, he joined the Lagos State Judiciary in 1958 as a Court Clerk, having decided this to be a pathway to understanding the practice of Law.

He thereafter journeyed to the United Kingdom where he obtained a bachelor"s degree in Law from the London School of Commerce and Holborn College.

He was called to the English bar at Lincolns Inn in July 1962, the same year he returned to Nigeria for legal practice. Idowu began his career at the Supreme Court of Nigeria on July 30, 1962 when he was enrolled as a Solicitor and Advocate by Honourable Justice Sir Adetokunbo Ademola Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, GCON, Personal Computer, SAN, having been sponsored by Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode Queen's Counsel, SAN and Kehinde Sofola CON, SAN. Some of his contemporaries were Late Chief M.A Kuku (Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu Ode), Chief Akin Delano among several successful lawyers.

On May 1989, he rose to the zenith of his career as Senior Advocate of Nigeria and in 1980, he was elected as president of the Nigerian Bar Association, a position he held until his tenure elapsed in 1982. On March 30, 2012, he was elected Chairman of the Nigerian Body of Benchers to succeed Dahiru Musdapher.

Idowu is the first African to be elected as the Secretary General of the International Bar Association.

Nigerian Bar Association

International Bar Association

Nigerian Body of Benchers.

Achievements

• Idowu Sofola has been listed as a reputable lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell.

Membership

Member: Body of Benchers, Nigeria, 1983—. London Court of International Arbitration. Member: Nigerian (General Secretary, 1979-1981) and International (Secretary General, 1986-1988) Bar Associations.

Arbitrational International.

Interests

• Ping pong/table tennis, reading, music.

Connections

Son of; married Olusola Odubela, December 23, 1963. Children: Olusina, Yetunde, Kolawole, Adeleke, Olufemi.

Father:

Sofola SAnni Son

Mother:

Efunriyan Salamotu (Oyelesi) Son

Spouse:

Olusola Odubela

child:

Kolawole Sofola

child:

Adeleke Sofola

child:

Olusina Sofola

child:

Olufemi Sofola

child:

Yetunde Sofola