Atake, advocate of Derivation, is dead

By Collins Edomaruse

Former High Court Judge of Mid-Western Nigeria and Second Republic Senator, The Honourable Justice Franklin Oritse-mueyiwa Atake, is dead.
He died in the early hours of yesterday of a heart-related disease at the Cadiac Center on Victoria Island, Lagos. He was aged 76.

His son, Dr. Eyimofe Atake (SAN), confirmed the death of the former jurist. Eyimofe said his father died at about 5.00am yesterday after being admitted for a few days.
The late jurist, who was a respected voice in derivation as a formula in the sharing of national cake, was born May 6, 1926 in Sapele, Delta State.

He was educated at Baptist School, Sapele and St. Luke’s Church Missionary Society School, Sapele as well as Ibadan Grammar School between 1935 and 1947.
Atake read Law at the University of London and the Inns of Court in London between 1951 and 1954 and was called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn in 1954.

The late jurist began his legal practice shortly after his call to the Bar and was appointed Magistrate in the Colony of Lagos in 1957. Because of the speed in which he dealt with cases that were before him, the then Chief Justice of Lagos and Southern Camerons, the Honourable Sir Clement Nageon de Lestang, CJ transferred him to the Camerons to handle a large backlog of cases. On his return from the Camerons, he was elevated to the position of a Senior Magistrate in 1959.

When the Mid-western Region was created in 1963, he took up appointment as Chief Magistrate in the Mid-western Region.
In 1967, he was appointed a Judge of High Court  of Mid-Western Nigeria.
He served in various divisions until he retired in 1977.

In 1979 – 1983, he was a Senator on the ticket of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) representing the then Bendel South Senatorial district.
He contested for the President of the Senate and lost to Dr. Joseph Wayas of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) by 10 votes. (52-42).

He became Leader of Thought in Delta State and wrote extensively on the principle of derivation and on other national issues.