About a month to his PhD graduation at the Faculty of Law, Babcock University, a topmost Nigerian journalist, lawyer, and monarch, the Towulade of Akinale in Ogun State, Oba Femi Ogunleye, passed on at 79 in an undisclosed London hospital in the United Kingdom.
Information revealed that Oba Ogunleye, a close ally of the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, reportedly died yesterday’s afternoon, (Wednesday, June 19, 2024), after a brief illness.
A statement signed by Dr Kola Adesina on behalf of the family formally announced the demise of the monarch. The statement reads, “With gratitude to God, the entire Ogunleye Family of Akinale and Delesolu Compound, Ago-Owu, Owu Kingdom Abeokuta hereby announce the passing unto glory of our illustrious son, father and grandfather, His Royal Highness Oba (Dr.) Olufemi Okesooto Iyanda Adewunmi Ogunleye, Towulade -1 of Akinale, Owu Kingdom Abeokuta.”
Born on September 23, 1944, Oba Ogunleye was the 11th child of his parents, but the only surviving one at the time of his birth.
Ogunleye completed his Bachelor Degree in Law from Crescent University in October 2017 at age 73 and finished at Law School and was called to the Bar in 2018. He bagged his Masters in Law, LLM in Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo in August 20, 2020, and immediately enrolled for a PhD programme in Law in the same school. Oba Ogunleye has completed his PhD programme and has been slated to be hooded on Thursday, July 25, and formally graduate on Sunday, July 28, 2024.
He also has several professional qualifications in his kitty, including the University of Lagos Diploma in Mass Communication and went to the Daily Times Training School where he came first in their course in 1972.
As a journalist in the 60s and 70s, he worked for the Morning Post, Middle Belt Herald, New Nigerian and Daily Times.
