Justice Olufunke Adekeye, CFR
Born on the 28th of October 1942 in Ilesha, Osun State, she attained her primary education in St. Andrews Primary School, Ondo State and her secondary education at St. Anne’s School, Ibadan, Oyo State. She went on to Northwestern Polytechnic, Leeds University and Sheffield College of Commerce, before attending the Nigerian Law School between 1967 and 1968 when she was called to the Nigerian Bar and admitted into Legal practice in Nigeria.
She commenced legal practice at Akin Oloko & Co Omonigbehin Chambers in Ibadan between 1968 and 1970, when she was appointed as State Counsel, State Ministry of Justice, Ibadan Defunct Western State – a position she held until 1974 when she was appointed Chief Magistrate Grade II, Ondo State. She rose through the ranks to Chief Magistrate Grade I, Deputy Chief Registrar, Ondo State High Court, then Chief Registrar until her appointment as High Court Judge in 1987.
In 1998, she was elevated to Justice Court of Appeal first in Ibadan Division, then followed by Enugu and Abuja Divisions. In 2008, she was made Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin and sworn in s a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria where she served from 2009 to 2012. Following her retirement as a Justice of the Supreme Court, she was appointed Commissioner, Police Service Commission in 2013 where she serves till date. Local and national assignments she has been involved in include Member National Committee for the Unification of the Criminal Code and Penal Code in Nigeria 1990-1992; Chairman, Adekeye Commission of Enquiry into Civil Disturbances in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State 1998; Chairman, Governorship/Legislative House Election Petition Tribunal, Kaduna Zone 1998; Chairman and Member of Governorship Election Petition Appeals – Ilorin, Calabar, Enugu, Abuja, Port Harcourt Divisions.
Justice Adekeye has been the recipient of numerous accolades and awards, including Child of Distinction Award from the Business and Professional Association of Ondo State; First Inter-State Hall of Fame for Ondo and Ekiti States; Ekiti Women of Excellence Award; Ewi of Ado Ekiti Outstanding Award; Distinguished Career Award, New York; International Federation of Women Lawyers Award; Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON); Fellow Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, St Matthews Anglican Church Maitama Abuja Outstanding Award, Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies; The virtuous Woman Award; Eyetuase of Ado-Ekiti Chieftancy; Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR); and Mother in Zion Award. Her hobbies and interests include music, reading, travelling and Christian evangelism.