Former NBA President, Benson Is Dead

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Babatunde Olusola Benson (SAN), has died at the age of 89.

Naija News reports that the death of Chief Benson, who held the traditional title of Asiwaju of Ikorodu, was announced on Thursday by the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi, and Ikorodu Branch of the NBA.

Benson was born in Ikorodu to the famous Benson family on July 4, 1932 and was called to the English bar in 1959. His enrollment number in Nigeria’s Supreme Court as Solicitor and Advocate was 38.

On his return to Nigeria, he joined the law firm of his uncle, TOS Benson, SAN, where he eventually rose to the position of the Head of Chambers.

Benson subsequently became General Secretary of the NBA and also subsequently elected Vice Chairman of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.

He suggested the idea of an association of African lawyers under the aegis of African Bar Association (ABA) and subsequently emerged its President between 1978 and 1980.

He was awarded the KJW Legal Practitioner for the Year 2004 by the Nigerian Bar Association)

He was the first and only Nigerian to serve in the capacities of General Secretary and NBA President.

Benson was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1983.