Justice Babatunde Adejumo: Life story of Nigeria’s judicial icon

Justice Babatunde Adeniran Adejumo, OFR, MCIArb, GFISMN, CFAIR, FCIArb, FNILS, DFIOARM, is a renowned Nigerian jurist and distinguished administrator, recently appointed as the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

His appointment, which takes effect from August 1, 2025, follows the conclusion of Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi’s four-year tenure.

He previously served as the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), where his transformative leadership reshaped the Court and left an enduring legacy in Nigeria’s judicial system.

Profile overview

Name: Babatunde Adeniran Adejumo

Date of birth: October 1, 1954

Place of birth: Ondo

Education: Obafemi Awolowo University

Relationship status: Married

Career: Legal expert

Early life

Born on October 1, 1954, in Ikaram-Akoko, Ondo State, Justice Adejumo’s early life was marked by adversity.

His father, Pa Oloniyo Adejumo, passed away three months before his birth, leaving him in the care of his maternal grandparents.

Despite a modest upbringing, he displayed resilience and determination from a young age.

Academic journey

He began his education at Catholic Mission School, Cantonment, Lokoja (1960–1962), and continued at Muslim Primary School, Ikaram-Akoko (1962–1965).

With support from Chief Magistrate Sawyer, a friend of his late father, he completed his primary education at St. Patrick’s Primary School, Owo, in 1966.

Justice Adejumo did not have formal secondary education. Instead, he relocated to Lagos in 1969 and trained as a shoemaker until 1972, later establishing his own shoe-making business.

In 1973, he joined the Nigerian Prisons Service as a warder and shoemaker and emerged as the best all-round student at the Prisons Training School, Enugu.

While still serving in the Prisons Service, he pursued education privately, passing his GCE O-Level in 1979 and A-Level in 1981.

These milestones enabled him to gain admission into the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where he earned an LL.B (Hons) degree in 1985.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986 and was exempted from the National Youth Service Corps due to age.

Career journey

Justice Adejumo began his legal practice at the chambers of the late J. Osuolale Ojo between 1986 and 1991.

His passion for public service led him into politics in 1992 when he was elected to represent Akoko North-West Constituency in the old Ondo State House of Assembly.

As Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Fundamental Human Rights and Public Petitions, he championed judicial reforms and inclusive policies.

He was instrumental in the recognition of Ondo State as an oil-producing state and advocated for the inclusion of the Egberi language on state-owned media to promote peaceful coexistence among ethnic communities.

Following the end of civil rule in 1993, he was appointed as Chief Magistrate in Ondo State (1994–1995).

In December 1995, he became the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and served as Secretary to both the Advisory Judicial Committee and the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee.

Judicial career

Justice Adejumo was sworn in as a High Court Judge in Ondo State on November 5, 1998.

His elevation continued in 2003 when President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

He was officially sworn in on May 5, 2003, by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais.

At the start of his tenure, NICN had only 123 staff members, of whom five were graduates. By his retirement in 2019, the Court had grown to over 2,700 staff, including more than 600 graduates and 37 judges.

Under his leadership, the NICN attained constitutional recognition through the Third Alteration to the 1999 Constitution, placing it on par with the Federal and State High Courts.

Justice Adejumo also invested in capacity-building, encouraging professional development and sponsoring judicial and administrative staff to national and international training programs.

His reforms strengthened the judicial resolution of labour, employment, and industrial disputes in Nigeria.

National and international engagements

A respected figure in legal and judicial circles, Justice Adejumo served as a member of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission.

Since his retirement in 2019, he has remained actively involved in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and has continued to mentor legal professionals and contribute to institutional reforms.

In July 2025, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, approved his appointment as the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), a fitting continuation of his dedication to judicial training and excellence.

Personal life

Justice Babatunde Adejumo is married to Hon. Justice Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo of the Court of Appeal.

Together, they are blessed with children and grandchildren.

A symbol of perseverance, integrity, and public service, Justice Adejumo’s life remains a shining example of how determination and purpose can shape a nation’s judiciary for the better.

Recognitions

Justice Adejumo has received numerous accolades in recognition of his service to the nation and the legal profession. Prominent among these is the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) national honour, conferred by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2008.

His other prestigious recognitions include:

• Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK and Nigeria)
• Grand Fellow, Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (GFISMN)
• Fellow, National Institute of International Labour Studies (FNILS)
• Fellow, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (FICMC)
• Chartered Fellow, Institute of Administrators and Researchers (CFIAR)
• Member, National Association of Court Management, Canada (MNACM)

He has also been honoured by numerous institutions including the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian universities, and student organisations for his outstanding contributions to legal development, social justice, and leadership.