Passage - Dr. Abdul Lateef Adegbite

Late. Dr. Abdul Lateef Adegbite

An illustrious son of Ogun State Dr. Abdul Lateef Adegbite, Secretary-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs is dead.

The Islamic leader and Baba Adinni of Egba land died last week Friday in a Lagos hospital of an undisclosed ailment aged 79.

His death reportedly threw Abeokuta and Egba land into fresh mourning, coming on the heels of the demise of two prominent Egba sons, Chief Oluwole Adeosun and Chief Segun Taiwo.


He is generally known as the mouth piece of Islam in Nigeria.

Adegbite, who was a Commander of the Order of the Niger, was also a director in Nigeria’s first Islamic bank, Jaiz Bank.

He obtained a B.A. (Hons) Law from the University of Southampton in 1962, was called to the Bar in 1965 and obtained his PhD in 1966.

He had over 40 years experience in legal practice at all levels and worked with diverse local and international clientele.

He was one of the founders and the first president of the Muslim Students Society and was an Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the defunct Western State.

Adegbite was Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Matters in the old Western Region of Nigeria during the military administration of Brig. Oluwole Rotimi (retd.).

In October 1976, he founded the legal firm of Lateef Adegbite & Co as the Principal Partner, with main office in Lagos and a branch office in Abeokuta, specialising in Commercial and Corporate Law. Adegbite was president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee from 1972 to 1985.

He was Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Maiduguri from 1984 to 1990.

Adegbite was also a member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange; member of Council and Executive Committee of Lagos State Chambers of Commerce and Industry; deputy president of Nigeria-Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and executive chairman of Nigerian – Arab Association.

Adegbite, who is survived by a wife, children and grand children, will be buried on Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital according to Islamic rites.

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