He wasn’t just a passionate Bar man.
He wasn’t just your perfect example of a lawyer who extolled the ethics of the Bar. He was a man full of grace, class and ever ready to contribute to the development of the legal profession.
I still recall how passionately he implored the leadership of the Bar to take centre stage in matters pertaining to the state of the nation. His, was a call for a revival of the age-long traditions of the Bar, where the voice of the Bar was reverred and lawyers commanded a position of respect in the polity of the nation.
The news of the death of Chief Ziggy Azike, Life Bencher, came as a shock to me and indeed the whole NBA Lagos Family.
Chief Ziggy had a larger than life image and lived life to the fullest. As a member of the Chukwuka Ikwuazom SAN led Executive Committee of 2017-2019, I attended a couple of the Nigerian Law School Lagos Campus dinners and it was a delight to listen to Chief Ziggy.
He regaled the law students and lawyers present with great and funny stories from the past and always charged them to be hardworking and determined to succeed in the legal profession.
As a very senior member of the Premier Branch, Chief Ziggy was an embodiment of wisdom and huge experience, a calming figure and one whose advice was always sought on matters affecting the Branch and beyond.
Chief was a very active member of the NBA and participated with full gusto in all Branch events. At our Annual Bar dinners, the sight of Chief Ziggy dancing was always a pleasure to behold.
I also had the privilege of visiting him in his offices at Marina late last year and we discussed so many topical issues affecting the Bar.
The NBA Lagos family will greatly miss this very much accomplished lawyer and astute Bar man.
I pray for the repose of the soul of this great man and pray that the Almighty God grants his family, the NBA Lagos and his loved ones the fortitude to bear the huge and irreparable loss.
Shola Abiloye, FCIArb.
