In recent months when all the news that occupied the global media landscape , both formal and social, about our country , Nigeria have mostly been about deliberate series of negative reporting , especially on the administration and management of Nigeria and Nigerians under President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, one major news just came out of the blue which enlivened my depressed spirit .
That spirit upliftment news is the just very recently announced nomination of Ambassador Ayo Oke as one of the 3 ( three) names forwarded by the President to the Senate for consideration as Nigeria Ambassador to a yet to be named foreign country .
I make bold to say , and I stand to be contradicted by anyone , that Ambassador Ayo Oke is one of very few Nigerians that are very forthright, honest, professional and a man of impeccable integrity who has served our country, the international community and humanity with deep passion , dedication and fidelity to his official duties and assignments.
I first got to know Ambassador Ayo Oke through my very reverred Principal and Mentor , Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu ( Aketi), CON, SAN , of blessed memory, who was a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association and also a former Governor of Ondo State.
I was an Associate in the the renown and top- notch law firm of Olujinmi and Akeredolu and I was also a fierce loyal disciple of Aketi till he breathed his last and departed this sinful one. If Aketi had 12 ( twelve ) disciples while on earth , I was certainly one of them.
It was the legendary Aketi who introduced me to Ambassador Ayo Oke when I was doing my pupillage in the law firm. Anybody who knew Aketi will surely and readily attest to the fact that Emperor was too blunt to a fault and never minced words , no matter whose ox is gored.
On my first encounter with Ambassador Ayo Oke in the law firm, Aketi said, “ OJ Irunmole, meet Ayo Oke who is an epitome of integrity in all ramifications. Ayo , that is sitting before you is a first class professional and a top grade career intelligence diplomat. Ayo’s specie are very few and uncommon in our clime where honesty is a very scarce commodity.”
There and then, I rose on my feet and bowed before the great career diplomat just introduced to me by the iconic Aketi.
I later got to know that Ajibola Oke and Kolawole Oke who are my fellow Golfers at the Ibadan Golf Club are kid brothers of Ambassador Ayo Oke. Truly and indeed , an apple can never fall far off from the apple tree. Ajibola and Kolawole are quintessential gentlemen , honourable and noble.
Giving my chance meeting with the diplomat as narrated above and the flowery adornment of his personality by Aketi which I wholly believed, I was stunned and very disappointed when the news broke sometime in April 2007 that the sum of $43m was found in the Lagos apartment of Ambassador Ayo Oke following a sting operation by some investigators from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2017.
I rushed down to Aketi’s Law Hub office and asked him if he had heard or read the breaking news about his so-called “ epitome of integrity “. diplomat. Aketi broke into heavy and long laughter and simply dismissed it as an impossibility. He told me that Ambassador Ayo Oke can never ever get involved in anything that would tarnish his hard-earned image and jealously guarded reputation. I was completely disarmed by Aketi’s reiteration of the man’s impeccable character and honour.
The aftermath of the investigation of the foreign currency found in Ambassador Ayo Oke’s Lagos apartment later confirmed Aketi’s position that the man will never have anything to do with any illegal acts or shady deals that will soil the honourable name and reputation that has been his trademark for several decades.
The report of the investigation found out that the said fund was actually meant and approved for some covert operations by the Nigerian Intelligence Agency by the presidency under the administration of the former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR and the honest envoy was eventually given a clean bill of health.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR must be commended for drawing out a golden fish that Ambassador Ayo Oke is , with his nomination as one of the Ambassadors to be screened by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because the Ambassadorial nominee is a widely respected person in the diplomatic world. At a period like this, Nigeria is very lucky and privileged that the President has beckoned on him to avail the country of his deep and sound wealth of diplomatic experience once again.
I would have wished that Aketi was still here with us to witness Ambassador Ayo Oke’s glorious moment before the Senate . I wish Ambassador Ayo Oke a most successful outing in the red chambers and yet another meritorious service to our nation.
Dated this 2nd day of December,2025
JCI Senator Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo,SAN
Asiwaju of Ita-Ege & Idi-Aro,
Ibadan South-East Local Government
AND
Agba Ofin of Orile-Igbon,
Surulere Local Government Area ,
Oyo State of Nigeria
+2348033275495
+2348181585848
Email: adebayoojo90@gmail.com