TESTIMONIES of the good works of the late human rights lawyer and people’s advocate, Kunle Fadipe, flowed freely on Saturday, as friends, associates, relatives, clients and colleagues, gathered to mark the first year anniversary of the death of the man they referred to as “Advocate of the down- trodden”

Saturday, July 4, 2015 marked exactly one year after Fadipe’s life was snuffed out in cold blood by a lone assailant in his sitting room at Harmony Estate, College Road, Ogba, Lagos.

The incident, which occurred at about 11.00p.m. that fateful Thursday, also saw the assailant stabbing the deceased’s son, Folarin as well as his mother-in-law.

To ensure the late lawyer remains in the hearts of his admirers for all his good deeds, his chamber, now led by the most senior lawyer in the firm, Abiola Owolabi, organised a memorial service and launch of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in honour of the departed.

The new NGO called “Kunle Fadipe Initiative,” would focus on investing knowledge in youths.

This is because the late Fadipe invested his time and services for the betterment of youths during his lifetime.

Among many who hailed his accomplishments was the Justice of Lagos High Court, Justice Ganiyu Safari, who told hundreds of audience that Fadipe was a man of honour, who hated corruption and injustice.

Despite the fact that Fadipe was his senior in the Department of Law, University of Lagos, the late lawyer lost some cases in his court and was never offended.

“I fondly regard him as my best friend. I was impressed by the effort of his chambers to organize an event like this. I knew him when I joined the University of Lagos. He was my senior then because he was in his final year, while I was a fresher. He contested for the post of the President of Law Society, University of Lagos.”

“He made me his campaign manager when he was contesting for the position. He contested against the son of a very rich man but he won the election because students saw the sincerity in him. He was always straightforward in his dealings with people. He was a partner in progress and he hated corruption,” Justice Safari said.

Another guest at the event, noted: “He would never give bribe or take bribe. He stood for justice. He hated corruption.”

A guest, G.O. Adelanwa, simply said, “Kunle was a generous man.”

A widow, who simply identified herself as Alhaja said: “Mr. Fadipe was always there for the widows.”

One Mrs. Onaiyekan told the audience that: “Fadipe did cases for me free of charge”.

“Kunle was not a money-monger. He was always passionate about justice and truth. He was honest and he did not compromise, ” said one Mr. J. A. Adejule.

Charles Awoyale, a pioneer member of his chamber, noted that his boss did not die a failure.

Head of Kunle Fadipe and Co. Chamber, Abiola Owolabi told her listeners that she never knew they would be able to continue with the chambers when her principal died.

According to her: “We never knew that we could continue with my principal’s firm. He had always told us to see his chambers as Kunle Fadipe and Co. None of our clients has left us since his demise. They stayed with us because of what our principal stood for. Kunle Fadipe made me what I am today. I never knew we could sustain this chamber to this level. We thank God for using us to sustain the legacy of Kunle Fadipe.”

The Guardian Newspaper, where Fadipe served as a member of the Editorial Board, was represented by Mr. Kunle Sanyaolu, a legal adviser, at the event.

Fadipe’s assailant, who was subsequently, arrested and taken to the Olowosokedile Police Station, was said to have gained access into the home of the late lawyer by scaling the fence and attacking Folarin, Fadipe’s son, who had opened the door to switch off the electricity generating set.

The boy who received severe wounds on the head and his right wrist immediately ran into the house to alert the father on the presence of an intruder.

Eyewitnesses further stated that the assailant upon seeing the late lawyer, demanded the sum of N500, 000 that Fadipe begged that he did not have at home, offering instead a lower amount and any other personal effects including the mobile phones.

The assailant then insisted on the amount and threatened to kill someone if the amount was not immediately provided.

He, thereafter, engaged the late Fadipe in a brawl, stabbing him with the butchers’ knife and a kitchen knife obtained from the late lawyer’s kitchen.

The assailant was reported to have had a better access to stabbing the lawyer, when the latter wrestled him to the ground while defending his mother-in law from being stabbed.

Sources said Fadipe, a former member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), was severely stabbed on the left side of the neck as well as the left side of the armpit, and the stomach. He lost a lot of blood.

The matter was transferred from Magistrate’s Court to the Lagos High Court and would be brought before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye for the first time in the High Court sitting in Ikeja today.