Sir Olumuyiwa Jibowu
Sir Olumuyiwa Jibowu, Kt (26 August 1899 – 1 June 1959), was a prominent Nigerian jurist and pioneer of the Nigerian judiciary. He was:
- The first African to serve on the Supreme Court of Nigeria
- The first African police magistrate
- The first Nigerian High Court judge
- Chief Justice of the Western Region, Nigeria
- A judge of the West African Court of Appeal
Life and Career
Samuel Olumuyiwa Jibowu was born on 26 August 1899 to Samuel Alexander Adebowale Jibowu, the first secretary of the Egba United Government, and Mary Elizabeth Jibowu (née Pearce). Through his marriage to Celia, he became a nephew-in-law to Sir Adeyemo Alakija.
He attended Abeokuta Grammar School and briefly taught there before pursuing further studies in England. In 1919, he left for Oxford University, where he earned a degree in Civil Law, and was called to the Bar at Middle Temple, London in 1923.
Judicial Milestones
- 1931: Appointed police magistrate — the first African to attain that position, during an era when colonial authorities distrusted African officials.
- 1942: Appointed Judge of the High Court.
- Later became a puisne judge in Benin City.
- 1957: Appointed Chief Justice of the Lagos High Courts and the Southern Cameroons.
- March 1958: Succeeded Adetokunbo Ademola as Chief Justice of the Western Region.
Jibowu was the only Black magistrate in Nigeria before 1934, known for his incorruptibility and principled service. His funeral in 1959 was attended by eminent figures such as James Wilson Robertson, Kofo Abayomi, John Rankine, Samuel Akintola, and several Supreme Court Justices.
Commission of Enquiry
In 1956, Sir Jibowu was appointed to lead an enquiry into the Cocoa Purchasing Company, a semi-government agency established to:
- Compete with expatriate firms
- Serve as a loan distribution agency
The Jibowu Commission Report revealed: - Corruption by company officials - Use of the company for political patronage and personal gain - Mismanagement of a loan scheme intended to support cocoa farmers
The findings led to the abolition of the loan scheme and reforms in the sector.
Legacy
Sir Olumuyiwa Jibowu is remembered as a trailblazer in the Nigerian judiciary, a man of integrity, and a model for legal ethics and judicial independence in both colonial and early post-colonial Nigeria.