Foremost corporate lawyer, elder statesman and philanthropist, Chief (Dr.) Christopher Oladipo Ogunbanjo aka Chris Ogunbanjo has passed away.
The patriarch died on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at the age of 99, two months before his 100th birthday.
Announcing his passing via a statement, his family said: “Papa was an unwavering beacon of reassurance, courage and moral integrity for the entire family, truly embodying dedication and service to his country.”
He was born on December 14, 1923, to the family of Daniel Ajayi Ogunbanjo, a Catechist from Erunwon, Ijebu, Ogun State and was educated at St Phillips Primary School, Aiyetoro, Ile-Ife before proceeding to Oduduwa College, also at Ile-Ife for his secondary education in 1936.
In 1946 he went to study law at the University of London. Ogunbanjo obtained a law degree in 1949 and was called to the bar in 1950.
He worked briefly for H.O. Davies’ law firm before establishing his private practice; his firm added two more partners, Samuel Ladoke Akintola and Michael Odesanya in 1952 to become Samuel, Chris and Michael Solicitors.
Chief Ogunbanjo was the Olotu of Ijebuland, the Larinja of Egbaland, Gbadero of Lagos, Lerinja of Egbaland, Baba Oba of Ijebu Imusin, and Baba Oba of Erunwon Ijebu.