ALL over the world, ants are generally considered to be harmless. They are often underrated, undermined and under-estimated. But wait a minute, the story of the harmless ant could change in a moment when an ant, just one, finds its way into the scrotum. Woe betides the fellow if the tiny insect belongs to the soldier-ant group. That is why the Yorubas would say 'Ijalo ko l'owo Ko l'ese sugbon o le bo aso lorun omiran' (an ant has neither hands nor legs but could strip a Goliath naked).This is a typical story of Mr. Oladipo Okpeseyi, a lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The SAN 'makes' him not just a typical ant, but a 'terror' soldier-ant, whose gentle mien, introvert and reserved nature, as well as un-assuming posture, may have put him in the same position with an ant.However, all these reflective meek qualities notwithstanding, an encounter with him whenever he is on the legal prowl, would definitely leave the person, with a bitter pill characteristic of a person having an ant lurking around his sensitive organ.If in doubt, the ruling Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission, whose leadership Okpeseyi cross-examined in the witness box in the course of the hearing of the 2011 presidential election petition in Abuja, could tell the story better. He was the lead counsel to the opposition Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).Oladipo's foray into law, again, emphasizes the place of environmental influence in career and character formation in the lives of children.He is one of the numerous indirect beneficiaries of the then boundless fame of the late Chief Rotimi Williams (SAN), who bestrode the Nigerian legal turf like an octopus when he was alive. He aptly recalled that even though he never saw or met Chief Williams when he decided to pursue law, his re-sounding fame as 'Timi the Law' in addition to how his father used to review political cases with them, especially the treasonable felony trial of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo combined to arouse his love for the law profession.This is how he puts it: 'When we were children, my father used to review cases, with us. He wasn't a lawyer but he was interested in the political development of the period, especially of the '60's.'For instance, in the trial of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he read them from the newspaper, while we sat around him and he would review them with us''In those days, Timi the Law, whose fame enveloped the whole area, was always an issue. We heard and read about his fame. So, these two scenarios, I would say, combined to make me develop interest in reading law'.In 1981, Oladipo took the step of faith to get his law dream actualized when he enrolled at the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State for a law programme.He was one of the numerous lawyers that passed through the scholarly law furnace of the erudite law Professor, Itse Sagay (SAN).Oladipo graduated from University of Benin in 1985, proceeded to the Nigeria Law School same year and passed out as a lawyer in 1986.Oladipo who was born to the late Pa Edward Okpeseyi and Madam Eunice Okpeseyi (nee Aladejobi) on February 18, 1957, hails from Usen, in Edo State.His classmates at the Law School included the current Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), his predecessor, Michael Andoakaa, Mr. Roland Otaru (SAN) Mr. J. K. Gadzama (SAN), Mr. Austine Alegeh (SAN) and Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN).Oladipo, whose mother hails from Owo in Ondo State, began his elementary education in 1963 at St Patrick's Anglican Primary School, Owo. He completed his primary education in 1969, and proceeded to Owo High School in 1970 for his secondary school education. He, however, did not finish there, as he had to leave Owo High School in 1972 for Immaculate Conception College, Benin City in 1973 where he completed his secondary school education in 1977.He attended the then Ondo State School of Basic Studies, Ikare-Akoko where he obtained his A-level Certificate in 1979. Okpeseyi, in 1986 demonstrated an uncommon trait that is not easily found among youths when he declined to have his compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme with an oil firm, National Oil in Akwa Ibom, just because of his love for practical and field law practice.His resolve and insistence to test and challenge his skills on the field becomes more commendable when, despite the fact that the oil firm was to pay him extra N1,000 per month in addition to the less than N200.00 the NYSC would pay him, he still declined. Also, apart from this extra monetary allowance, the oil firm also had for him a decent accommodation. Yet, he turned down all these and sought redeployment to a law firm that could hardly pay his transport fare to and from the court.Determined to travel and make it through the rough road, he joined the law firm of A.M. Okunna & Associates and before he knew it, he got more than what he bargained for as his experience in the first day he appeared alone in court, without his principal, showed.'That day, the matter was a land tussle involving two communities. The other party in the case was represented by a very senior and advanced lawyer, a contemporary of my boss', he noted. The implication was that the NYSC lawyer (Okpeseyi) had to handle the entire proceeding that day.But as it turned out, in this legal tussle between 'Goliath' and stone-wielding 'David', the older and more senior lawyer hardly allowed him to breathe as he wildly descended on him, trying to bully and intimidate him. He was, however, saved by the trial judge who angrily cautioned and stopped the older lawyer.This is how he puts it: 'I had just addressed the court and gave my submission when the senior, on the other side, who was more advanced at the Bar, started howling on me, trying to bully and intimidate me. The judge, however, came to my rescue saying: 'No, no, no! You can't do that in my court. He has told you what the position of law is, if you have anything, you address me'.After his NYSC, he returned to Lagos where he worked with the law chambers of V.I Bello before setting up his own law firm in 1988. From that moment in 1988, the lawyer has continued to successfully rise to the challenges of his calling, rising to the professional peak of his career by becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).Okpeseyi, an avowed lover and advocate of missionary education, blamed the general fallen standard of education in the country on seizure of schools from missionary and the centralization of education in the hand of government. This, in his view, prevented healthy competition for quality education.Of course, he should know better as somebody who attended missionary school for both his primary and secondary school education.He cited legal juggernauts such as Chief G.O.K. Ajayi, the late Kehinde Sofola as some of his role models 'I will pay respect to Mr. Kehinde Sofola (SAN) of blessed memory, I also want to respect the fine advocacy of people like Chief G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN). I love their presentation, I love the level of their preparedness any time they were in court,' he said.He opposed the call for the abrogation of the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). In his view, the retention would continue to promote strive for excellence.According to him, every institution should have a high point of excellence where practitioners should be looking forward to attain.He urged lawyers and even ordinary members of the public to take advantage of the publication of would-be beneficiaries in the newspapers, to send in their inputs on anybody listed, they feel does not deserve it.On the corruption in the judiciary, the eminent lawyer is of the opinion that poor remuneration is partly responsible for sharp practices among judges. He however said that government at both the state and federal levels are beginning to wake up to improving the salaries and welfare packages of judges.He particularly singled out Lagos State Government as taking the lead in the improvement of the salaries and welfare of judges.He urged other states to take a cue from Lagos State. 'Judges are human beings. Thank God, what the Lagos State Government is doing, and I think the federal government is also doing it. There was a time when you would feel sorry for judges, but now things are no longer that way. Their salaries are enough for them. Lagos State has reformed the entire judicial system. There is now good appointment procedure, good welfare package and good remuneration. The system must be such that would protect them and give them a good life during and after service. A situation, as I read somewhere, that retired judges were invited for verification exercise, is to say the least de-basing'.The Edo-born legal icon is a devout Christian and the Deputy-Chancellor of the Owo Diocese of the Anglican Communion. He also belongs to several professional bodies among them are: International Trade-mark Association (U.S.A), Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (Nigeria), Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (U.K), Asian Patent & Trade-mark Attorneys Association, Japan, Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association (UK), Nigerian Institute of Management, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria etc.Though he has little or no time for recreation, he is, however, a member of some notable recreational clubs, among which are: Island Club, Ikoyi Club 1938, Yoruba Tennis Club etc.Though he is yet to set up foundations, he however, has a regular financial programme for brilliant but indigent students.He is happily married and blessed with children. He is a lover of Iyan (pounded yam) efo-elegusi (vegetable with melon soup) and Eran-Igbe (bush-meat).
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