President, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Mr Idowu Sofola is dead.

He died in Lagos on Friday, aged 84, according to Secretary General of the YCE, Mr Kunle Olajide.

The prominent jurist, bencher and former President of Nigerian Bar Association took over from Mr Adeyinka Adebayo, who died last year.

Sofola, born on Sept. 29, 1934, was the first black to be appointed Secretary of the International Bar Association (IBA) and was a prominent member of Ikenne Social Circle and Obara Ruling House for the Alakenne Royalty.

Olajide told our correspondent yesterday that YCE was grieved and shocked by Sofola’s death, who he said, was not ill or bedridden.

“I spoke with him few days ago, congratulating him on the appointment of his son as a high court judge and we were planning an event to host him.

“The icon is leaving us at a critical time particularly in Yorubaland as the country prepares for the 2019 general elections.

“He was an intelligent man of Yoruba extraction and the vacuum he left behind will be difficult to fill.

“It is great shock to me and YCE; a strong advocate and believer in true federalism, brilliant lawyer and defender of human rights and democracy,” he said.

Olajide, who said he was leading a delegation of YCE headquartered in Ibadan, to the Ikenne home of the Sofolas in Ogun, added: “His death is terrifying.”

He condoled with the immediate family, Ikenne people, Ogun State and the Yoruba on his demise and prayed that may Allah grant his soul rest.

Ogun State Governor, Mr Ibikunle Amosun, has commiserated with the family of the late Sofola.

Amosun, at the family home of the late Senior Advocate described him as an icon, who served his community, town, Ogun State and the country in so many capacities meritoriously.

He noted that the deceased lived a good life and should not be mourned, but rather celebrated, enjoining his widow and family members to be grateful for the life well spent.

He prayed that Allah will grant him Aljannah Fridaous.

One of the children of the deceased, Shina Sofola, also a lawyer, on behalf of the family, appreciated the governor for creating time out of his busy schedule to honour the late Sofola.

The Nation