Franklin Atake: Committed and Loyal Friend

Folake Solanke, SAN goes down memory lane as she recalls the beginnings of their life long friendship and pay a person tribute to the late Justice Franklin Atake.

First, let me express my deep appreciation to the Hon. Chief Judge of Delta State for the privilege given to me to pay a family Tribute to the Hon. Justice F.O. M. Atake who change mortality for immorality on Saturday the 1st day of March 2003. However, this special privilege was without prejudice to the right of the most senior Senior Advocate of Nigeria in Warri to give an address according to the tradition of the Inner Bar.

I understand that your Lordship assumed office last Friday. I wish your Lordship every success.

I know very well that many eulogies will be rendered on Justice Atake’s outstanding judicial performance and remarkable contribution to the Nigeria as a Senator, In consequence of this, I decided to pay a personal and family Tribute instead of a professional one.

The last time that I saw the late Judge (Papa ‘Mofe) was Tuesday the 18th day of September 2002 when he attended the first anniversary of the transition to eternity of Professor Emeritus Toriola F. Solanke CONL (Senegal) in Ibadan. The Emeritus Professor’s death caused much pain to him, his beloved wife “Mama Stella” the children and the entire family. Little did I know that was the last time that I would see him. Great pity.

The strong bond of affection between our two families was brought about by our children at Adeyemi Lawson Street, Ikoyi, Lagos where we were neighbours between 1962 and 1963. It happened like this. Every evening the baby-nurse would take the four-year old Eyimofe Atake on a walk down the street to enjoy the Lagoon breeze. Similarly, a baby-nurse would take my three-year old daughter Oluyemisi Solanke – on the same exercise. Dr. Eyimofe Atake is now a brilliant lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Oluyemisi (now Dr. Koya) – is a medical doctor, a lawyer and a poet.

They met on the way to the Lagoon and the two families became friends. Even though, subsequently, the families moved away to different locations, yet the affection between the families grew stronger over the years. Praise be to God.

Thus, it was with much a pain and shock that I heard in the U.S.A last month of the passing away of Papa ‘Mofe.

Immediately, I knew I had to return for the funeral ceremonies and so informed the family on the telephone. I thank God for travelling mercies for all of us.

Please permit me to recount three events which will graphically illustrate the mutual family affection herein before referred to.

In 1986 when his beautiful daughter: Stella – was to get married, Papa Stella came to Ibadan to invite me to be the Chairman of the Wedding reception on the beautiful grounds of his Warri residence. His words of invitation were: “Mama Yemi, I want you to come and “blow big big grammar, big big English, big big oyinbo at the reception”!
I did perform the role of chairman and tried to carry out his instructions. It was, and still is, extremely unusual for a female to be the chairman at such receptions.

In 1993, during one of my overseas trip, Eyimofe was frantically looking for me in Nigeria. Upon my return I got to know that he had performed a scholarly and academic feat in publishing an impressive book titled: “Contempt in the face of the Court”. The book was to be launched on the 10th day of March 1993 and he wanted me to be the “Mother of the Day”. It gave me both a family and professional joy to perform that function. In my autographed copy of the book on that day, Eyimofe wrote: “Chief Mrs. Folake Solanke, SAN Mother of the Day at my book launching. Thank you very much for the support.
Eyimofe Atake, 10:3:93”

Those who have read the book know that Eyimofe’s interest in that particular area of the law arose from his father’s experience in the Boyo v The Attorney-General Mid-West case and the Atake vs Attorney-General of the Federation case both of which featured “Contempt” proceedings.

The last event was the first anniversary on 18/09/02 to which I made reference earlier. After the event which was attended by Papa and Mama Stella, Stella herself and her child, I was anxious that they should come home with us for lunch. Papa Stella painfully declined and told me that on the previous day to wit: Monday the 17th day of September 2002, a fire disaster had engulfed his Warri palatial mansion including his library and that they were proceeding to Warri the following day to view the burnt edifice. I was speechless. I was amazed that they still attended the event for the late Professor Emeritus a day after such a family financial and professional catastrophe.

What a friend!
What a level of affection!!
What a degree of loyalty!!!
I believe that I have given sufficient cogent particulars and evidence albeit not on oath, of the superb and cherished family relationship.

In the THISDAY issue of Tuesday 01/04/03 in an emotive filial Tribute to his illustrious father Dr. Eyimofe Atake, SAN wrote as follows: “FOM Atake as he was popularly known was by any standard a rara avis. He was a straight forward and simple man with a wonderful and jovial personality. He was irrepressibly good-humoured. He was a superb man with a warm and generous heart.
A humanist. He was an extremely modest man. He was a good man. A good Judge, Senator, Statesman and leader who would be accorded a high place.

He was a real stalwart and tenacious defender for what is right. He was admired by the wider public as a figure of integrity and courage. He was immensely loyal to people at whatever cost to himself.” I concur with that opinion.

It remains for me to offer my condolences to his beloved and charming widow Mrs. Victoria Atake, the Atake family, the judiciary not only of Delta State but the Nigerian judiciary, the Delta State, His Highness the Olu of Warri-our royal learned friend, his friends associates and all whose lives he touched in such a splendid way.

We are grateful to the judiciary of Delta State for this Special Court Session for a distinguished jurist and eminent Senator whose legacy will last for ever.

Let me end by quoting from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: “A Psalm of Life” as follows:- “LIVES of great men all remind us. We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time”.

Now, Papa ‘Mofe rests! Now, Senator Atake is a peace!! Now, the Hon. Justice Atake belongs to the ages!!!

“Requiescat in pace”.

This tribute was delivered by Chief
Folake Solanke, SAN at the special High Court Session on April 4 at Warri, Delta State in honour of the late Judge and Senator of the Second Republic Justice Franklin Oritshe-Mueyiwa Atake.