Atanda Fatai Williams
Chief Justice of Nigeria | |
---|---|
In office 1979–1983 | |
Preceded by | Darnley Arthur Alexander |
Succeeded by | George Sodeinde Sowemimo |
Personal details | |
Born | 22 October 1918 |
Died | 10 April 2002 | (aged 83)
Political party | Non partisian |
Early life
Williams was born on 22 October 1918 in Lagos State, Nigeria, the son of Issa Williams. His father came from a trading family in Lagos and Williams was the grandson of Seidu Williams,[4] a Lagos merchant. His father was an adherent of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam.
Williams attended an Ahmadiyya primary school, near Aroloya, Lagos and proceeded to
After earning his WASC certificate, he joined the Civil Service as a third class clerk in the Medical Department. During World War II, he applied and got admission to Trinity Hall, Cambridge. His journey to England was through a chartered Elder Dempster Ship, MV Stentor, while in the Mid-Atlantic, the ship was torpedoed but all Nigerian passengers survived using life boats.[4] He studied law at University of Cambridge and Middle Temple where he trained as a legal practitioner in 1948.[5]
Law career
Upon returning from London, he worked briefly with the law chambers of Remi Fani-Kayode and Rotimi Williams before establishing his own law firm in 1948. He joined the Lagos State Judiciary as Crown Counsel in 1950. In 1955, a decision was made whereby regional governments were allowed to create the position of Chief Justice and to enact statutory laws. Subsequently, a commission under the former Chief Justice, John Verity was created to review statute of laws of the region. Williams applied for the position of deputy commissioner of the review body. He was later appointed Deputy Commissioner for Law Revision, Western Nigeria, a position he held until he was elected as Constitutional Adviser, Western Nigerian Delegation to the London Constitutional Conference of 1957, after a year, he became the Chief Registrar for the High Court of Western Nigeria.[6]
In 1960, he became a judge in the Western region, after a year, he was posted to the Benin Judicial Division as judge. The posting was met with coldness from some residents of Benin who had wanted a Mid-Western State and preferably a judge from the Benin division. In March 1963, he was posted to the Ondo Judicial Division and in 1967, he was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as Justice. He served at various judicial committees between 1971 and 1979.[7]
In 1979, he became a member of the
Chief Justice
Prior to his appointment, Williams was the most senior judge in the Supreme Court with the exclusion of judges such as
In Abraham Adesanya vs the Vice-President of Nigeria, the court delved into the question of
Personal life
Williams was married in London in 1948 to Ms Irene Williams (née Loft). They have three sons: Babatunde, Alan and Oladele. One of his grandchildren (Anthony Fatayi-Williams) was killed in the 7 July 2005 London bombings.[17]
References
- ISBN 9789782704122.
- ^ "There's life even after election defeat". The Punch – Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "Life after election defeat". Vanguard News. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ a b c Williams, Fatayi (1983). Faces, cases, and places: Memoirs. Butterworths.
- ^ Fabio Lanipekun. "NOC musical chairs". tribune.com.ng. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ISBN 9782845864245. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ISBN 9781439888810. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "Mariam Mukhtar: Challenges before first female CJN". Vanguard News. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ Okhuegbe Solomon. Fatayi Williams and the Supreme Court. Thisday Newspapers, 21 May 2002
- ^ "Awolowo vs. Shagari: The Day The Law Died In Nigeria By Seyi Olu Awofeso". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ISBN 9781598849691. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "THE DOCTRINE OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE: A doctrine of substantial folly". Vanguard News. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ Lillian Okenwa. Nigeria: Supreme Court Holds Special Session for Fatayi-Williams. Thisday Newspapers. 28 May 2002.
- ^ Olisa Agbakoba. The Legacy of Fatayi-Williams. Thisday Newspaper. 16 April 2002.
- ^ "Supreme Court of Nigeria – Supreme Court of Nigeria". supremecourt.gov.ng. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "Details – The Nation Archive". The Nation. Nigeria. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ Kintum & Olaniyonu. "Anthony Fatayi-Williams Body Recovered". Online Nigeria. Retrieved 15 February 2016.