Yemi Osinbajo

Osinbajo was educated at Corona primary School, in Lagos. He attended Igbobi College in Yaba, Lagos, from 1969 to 1975,[7] where he won the following awards: the State Merit Award (1971); the School Prize for English Oratory (1972); Adeoba Prize for English Oratory (1972-1975); Elias Prize for Best Performance in History (WASC, 1973); School Prize for Literature (HSC, 1975); and African Statesman Intercollegiate Best Speaker's Prize (1974).[8][9]

Thereafter he studied for his undergraduate degree at the University of Lagos between 1975 and 1978, when he obtained a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) Degree in Law. Here, he also won the Graham-Douglas Prize for Commercial Law.[10] In 1979, he completed the mandatory one-year professional training at the Nigerian Law School whereon he was admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. In 1980, he attended the London School of Economics, where he obtained a Master of Laws degree.[11]

From 1979 to 1980, Osinbajo served the compulsory one-year youth service as a legal officer with Bendel Development and Planning Authority (BDPA), Bendel State.

In 1981, at 23, he was employed as a law lecturer at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. From 1983 to 1986, he became a Senior Lecturer of Law at the University of Lagos. From 1988 to 1992, he was appointed the Senior Special Adviser (Soliciting and Litigation) to Nigeria’s Honourable Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola.[12]

In 1997, Osinbajo became a professor of the law of evidence and was head of the Department of Public Law, University of Lagos from 1997 to 1999 until his appointment as Commissioner for Justice.

From 1999 to 2007, Osinbajo, served in the Lagos State Cabinet of Bola Tinubu as the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In 2007, Osinbajo was made Senior Partner at Simmons Cooper Partners (Barristers and Solicitors), Nigeria.[13]

His other past roles include:

• Senior Officer, United Nations Operations in Somalia, Justice Division, UNOSOM II.
• Member, United Nations Secretary General's Committee of Experts on Conduct and Discipline of UN, Peacekeeping Personnel around the globe, Member, 2006.
• Senior Partner in the law firm of Osinbajo, Kukoyi & Adokpaye.

Yemi Osinbajo in 2015 during the general election campaigns

After the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, Yemi was tasked with other notable Nigerians to design and produce a manifesto for the new political party. This culminated in the presentation of the "Roadmap to a New Nigeria", a document published by APC as its manifesto if elected to power. The highlights of the Roadmap included a free schools meal plan, a conditional cash transfer to the 25 million poorest Nigerians if they enroll children in school and immunize them. There were also a number of programs designed to create economic opportunities for Nigeria's massive youth population.[14]

On 17 December 2014 the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, retired General Muhammadu Buhari, announced Osinbajo as his running mate and vice-presidential candidate for the 2015 general elections.[15][16][17][18] During the 2014/2015 campaigns of the All progressives Congress, Yemi Osinbajo held numerous town hall meetings across the country as against the popular rallies that many Nigerians and their politicians were used to. One of his campaign promises, which he has recently reiterated, was the plan to feed a school child a meal per day. Beyond feeding the school children, he has recently emphasized that this plan will create jobs (another campaign promise) for those who will make it happen.[19]

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and President Buhari

On 31 March 2015, Muhammadu Buhari was confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the presidential elections. Thus, Osinbajo became the Vice President-elect of Nigeria. They were both sworn in on 29 May 2015. On 17 August 2017 VP Yemi Osinbajo described hate speech as a species of terrorism.[20]

First Term (2015–2019)

Tenure

Seal of the Vice-President.

Yemi Osinbajo assumed office after taking the oath of office on 29 May 2015 at the Eagle Square, Abuja. As the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he oversaw the economic planning team and report as well as make recommendations to the president who takes the final decision. Because of his legal background and antecedents as a commissioner for justice in Lagos state for eight years, many expect that he will contribute a great deal to the much needed reform of the judicial system at the national level.

Acting President

President Muhammadu Buhari wrote a written declaration on 9 May 2017 to the president of the senate and house of representatives on his decision to embark on a medical trip; the letter was read that day at a plenary assembly of both the senate and the house of representatives. The acting presidency was conferred upon Vice president Osinbajo during President Buhari's medical leave.[21][22]

Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari calling on the President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, in Abuja, Nigeria, on 27 September 2016. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is seen to the right.

On 7 August 2018, Osinbajo fired the State Security Service boss, Lawal Daura[23] for illegal invasion of National Assembly by armed and masked operatives of the department. Daura was replaced with Matthew Seiyefa.[24]

Second Term (2019–2023)

Osinbajo with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2021

In January 2019, Osinbajo criticized the fact that social media is currently "under multi-jurisdictional regulation". He called for more collaboration among nations to reach a convention to regulate social media and counter hate speech.[25]

On 2 February 2019, Osinbajo's helicopter crashed in Kabba, Kogi State. He survived, and delivered a previously-scheduled campaign speech after the crash. In the speech, he said he was "extremely grateful to the Lord for preserving our lives from the incident that just happened. Everyone of us is safe and no one is maimed."[26]

Tenure

On 29 May 2019, Professor Yemi Osinbajo took his oath of office to begin his second term at Eagle Square in the capital of Abuja.[27][28]

Following the federal government's decision to close the nation's land borders in October 2019, Osinbajo explained that the government did so to gain the attention of other nations to the importance of policing the borders. He claimed that China and other nations were smuggling in products, including agricultural ones, undermining the Nigerian economy and threatening Nigerian agriculture. By closing the borders, Osinbajo claimed that the government was helping protect the economy and Nigeria's producers and farmers.[29]

In October 2019, Osinbajo criticized the government's proposed social media regulations, stating he did "not think that government regulation is necessarily the way to go". Instead, he asked citizens to take more active steps to police social media. He stated that citizens and leaders, both political and religious, "owe a responsibility to our society and to everyone else, to ensure that we don't allow it to become an instrument" of war. He also warned people against using social media to spread "religious disinformation", which could lead to conflict and war.[30]

On 31 March 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Vice president Osinbajo to chair an economic sustainability committee. The aim of the committee is to develop measures to cushion the effect of the coronavirus and eventually reposition the Nigerian economy.[31][32]

In July 2020, his spokesman stated that Osinbajo has become a "political target",[33] stating "I'm his spokesperson and all I know he wants to do is to do this job that he has been given very well and he doesn't have any other plans right now about any such thing. I can tell you that clearly."[34] Osinbajo usually visited bereaved people, sending condolence messages to them, as well as attending funerals, he is lauded as the only government official to have attended the most ceremonial engagements, since Nigeria’s return to democracy, than any other.

His speeches are always phenomenal, it is always embedded with humor, with catchy phrases and captivating stance during the entire speech. It is rumored among his staff, that he never read from a paper to deliver his speech, but only had talking points that he listed out on a tiny piece of paper, and whenever he read from a paper or device it was either a direct quote and did not want to make a mistake, or a pre-prepared speech by his host.

On 25 May 2023, Before the expiration of Osinbajo's tenure in office as Vice President of Nigeria, he was named as the chair for the Commonwealth observation group for the Sierra Leone 2023 presidential elections. Osinbajo chaired this observation group with a team consisting of experts in politics, the legal profession and media. The Secretary General expressed gratitude for Osinbajo's acceptance to chair the group and noting that as a professor of law, he's one of the few leading legal experts from the Commonwealth African nations to undertake the task.[35]

On 11 July 2023, Osinbajo was appointed Global Advisor for the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). The head of the organisation Simon Harford said that the appointment will help in the organisation's mission in the development of clean energy in developing countries. "For many years, His Excellency Professor Yemi Osinbajo has been a respected role model of public service at the forefront of policy formulation and implementation on crucial developmental issues relating to national planning, climate change, enabling the business and investment environment, governance, and social investment,” Harford said.[36]

Osinbajo also set up a personal NFPO, Future Perspectives, which aims at equipping young people with skills of innovation, policy and project implementation to support their role as changemakers, capable of developing and implementing their own initiatives, as well as other collective efforts to transform education now and for future generations. This initiative was supported by the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC).[37]

In an exclusive report by Peoples Gazette, Yemi Osinbajo's law firm, SimmonsCooper, was linked to an onshore money-laundering front, Ocean Trust Limited, which is owned by the national leader of the All Progressives Congress and erstwhile boss of Osinbajo while a commissioner in Lagos State, Bola Tinubu. The report established a link between the shell company and Osinbajo's law firm through bank transactions showing credit transfers to its accounts. The law firm had earlier denied any interaction or business relationship with the shell company, threatening to sue The Punch for linking it with Ocean Trust.[38][39]

Electoral law violation

In another exclusive report by Peoples Gazette which cited bank records, Osinbajo received 200 million naira in the run-up to the 2015 presidential election from Guaranty Trust Holding Company PLC's Investment One, in three tranches of N100 million, N50 million and N50 million, in violation of federal campaign finance law - which only approves the donation limit of N1 million to a candidate in a presidential race. The managing partners at Osinbajo's firm SimmonsCooper also donated the sum of N50 million in two payments of N25 million. Other lawyers with a relationship with Osinbajo donated N10 million to the campaign bank account. All of this was in violation of the electoral law. Osinbajo did not disclose these violations to the electoral body or police.[40][41]

Yemi Osinbajo was born into the family of Opeoluwa Osinbajo on 8 March 1957,[42] Creek Hospital, Lagos. Osinbajo is married to Dolapo (née Soyode) Osinbajo, a granddaughter of Obafemi Awolowo.[43] The former Vice- President and Second Lady are blessed with three children, one son-in-law, and one grandson born in September 2020 : two daughters, Oluwadamilola and Oluwakanyinsola, his son, Mofiyinfoluwa Osinbajo, son-in-law, Oluseun Bakare, who is married to Oluwadamilola.[44]

Osinbajo, is know for wearing his famous black traditional hat, in a very delicate and pristine way that stands out, and his cap has become so famous, that the style is now dubbed as the “Osinbajo cap” by fashion designers.

Osinbajo is a Senior Pastor of the Lagos Province 48 (Olive Tree provincial headquarters) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.[46]

The initiative was conceptualized, as a way to celebrate Prof Yemi Osinbajo's birthday by a group that refers to themselves as 'Friends of Prof'. With its aim stated as 'inspiring and promoting entrepreneurial endeavors within Nigeria in honor of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo'. The initiative, In 2020, provided a number of start-ups and small businesses with one-off grants and plans to do same in 2021. Also, it plans to recognize Health workers at the fore front of the fight against COVID-19 while providing nationwide medical intervention.[47]

Chapters contributed to books

• The Common Law, The Evidence Act and The Interpretation of Section 5(a) in Essays in Honour of Judge Elias (1986) (J.A. Omotola, ed) pgs. 165-18;
• Some Reforms in The Nigerian Law of Evidence Chapter in Law and Development (1986), (J.A. Omotola and A.A. Adeogun eds.) pgs. 282–311;
• Rules of Evidence in Criminal Trials in the Nigerian Special Military Tribunals Chapter 2 in Essays on Nigerian Law, Vol ... 1, Pgs. 28–42. (J.A. Omotola ed)
• Some Public Law Considerations in Environmental Protection. Chapter in "Environmental Laws in Nigeria", (J.A. Omotola ed.) 1990 pgs 128–149
• Domestic and International Protection for Women: "Landmarks on the Journey so far" in Women and Children under Nigerian Law". (Awa U. Kalu & Yemi Osinbajo eds.) 1990. pgs. 231–241
• Some Problems of Proof of Bank Frauds and Other Financial Malpractices in Bank Frauds and Other Financial Malpractices in Nigeria (Awa Kalu ed.)
• FMJL Review Series, Modalities For The Implementation of The Transition Provisions in The New Constitution in Law Development and Administration (Yemi Osinbajo & Awa Kalu eds.) (1990).
• FMJL Review Series, Legal and Institutional Framework For The Eradication of Drug Trafficking in Nigeria – Narcotics: Laws and Policy in Nigeria (Awa Kalu & Yemi Osinbajo eds.) 1990
• Proof of Customary Law in non-Customary Courts, – Towards a Restatement of Nigerian Customary Laws, (Osinbajo & Awa Kalu eds.) 1991
• External Debt Management: Case Study of Nigeria – International Finance and External Debt Management, UNDP/UNCTC, 1991
• Judicial and Quasi-judicial Processing of Economic and organised Crimes: Experiences, Problems etc. Essays in Honour of Judge Bola Ajibola, (Prof. C.O. Okonkwo ed.) 1992
• Human Rights, Economic Development and the Corruption Factor in Human Rights and the Rule of Law and Development in Africa (Paul T. Zeleza et al. eds) 2004

Articles published in law journals

• Legitimacy and Illegitimacy under Nigerian Law Nig. J. Contemp. Law. (1984–87) pgs. 30–45
• Unraveling Evidence of Spouses in Nigeria, Legal Practitioners Review Vol. 1 No. 2 1987 pgs. 23–28
• Can States Legislate on Rules of Evidence? Nigerian Current Law Review 1985 pgs. 234–242
• Problems of Proof in Declaration of Title to Land, Journal of Private and Property Law Vol. 6 & 7, October 1986, pgs. 47–68
• Interpretation of Section 131(a) of the Evidence Act. Journal of Private and Property Law Vol. 6 & 7 (1986), pgs. 118–122
• Review of Some Decrees of the Structural Adjustment Era (Part 1, 2, 3), (1989) 2 GRBPL No. 2 (Gravitas Review of Business and Property Law) pgs.60–63, (1989) 2 GRBPL No. 3 (Gravitas Review of Business and Property Law) pgs. 51–55, (1989) 2 GRBPL No. 4 (Gravitas Review of Business and Property Law)
• Current Issues in Transnational Lending and Debt Restructuring Agreements part 1 and 2, Autonomy, Academic Freedom and the Laws Establishing Universities in Nigeria (1990) Jus. Vol. 1 No. 2, pgs. 53–64, Admissibility of Computer Generated Evidence. (1990) Jus. Vol. 1 No. 1 pgs. 9–12
• Allegations of Crime in Civil Proceedings, U.I. Law Review 1987;
• Roles, Duties and Liabilities of Collateral Participants and Professional Advisers in Unit Trust Schemes (1991) Jus. Vol. 1 No. 7 pgs. 71–83, Reform of the Criminal Law of Evidence in Nigeria (1991) Jus. 2 No. 4 Pgs. 71–98
• Profit and Loss Sharing Banks – (1990) Jus. Vol. 2 No. 8, Juvenile Justice Administration in Nigeria.
• A review of the Beijing Rules. (1991) Jus. Vol. 2 No. 6. Pgs. 65–73
• Sovereign Immunity in International Commercial Arbitration – The Nigerian experience and emerging state practice- In African Journal of International and Comparative Law, 4 RADIC 1992, page 1-25, Human Rights and Economic Development in The International Lawyer. 1994, Vol. 28, No. 3 pgs. 727–742
• Legality in a Collapsed State: The Somalia Experience 45 ICLQ 1996, pgs. 910–924.

Books published/edited

• Nigerian Media Law, GRAVITAS Publishers 1991
• Cases and Materials on Nigerian Law of Evidence, Macmillan, 1996
• Integration of the African Continent Through Law" (Edward Foakes Publishers, 1989, vol. 7, Federal Ministry of Justice Law Review Series)
• Towards A Better Administration of Justice System in Nigeria" (Edward Foakes Publishers, 1989)
• FMJL Review Series, "Women and Children Under Nigerian Law"
• FMJL Review Series, The Unification and Reform of the Nigerian Criminal Law and Procedure Codes – (Malthouse Press), 1990
• Law Development and Administration (Malthouse Press), 1990
• Narcotics: Law and Policy in Nigeria, FMJL Review Series 1990
• Perspectives on Human Rights in Nigeria FMJL Review Series 1991
• Perspectives on Corruption in Nigeria, FMJL Review Series 1992
• Democracy and the Law, FMJL Review Series, 1991
• The Citizens Report Card on Local Governments (with Omayeli Omatsola 1998)
• Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – A training Agenda for Nigeria (with Bankole Olubamise and Yinka Balogun, 1998) Legal Research and Resource Development Centre
• Annotated Rules of the Superior Courts of Nigeria (with Ade Ipaye) Lexis-Nexis Butterworths 2004
• Cross Examination: A Trial Lawyer's Most Potent Weapon (with Fola-Arthur Worrey) Lexis-Nexis Butterworths 2006

• List of Senior Advocates of Nigeria
• Vice President of Nigeria
• List of Nigerians

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