Human rights lawyer and activist, Fred Agbaje, is dead.

Mr. Agbaje died in London on Friday, a source close to the family told newsmen at the weekend.

The cause of his death is yet to be disclosed.

His colleague and fellow human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, who also confirmed Mr. Agbaje’s passing, described him a thoroughbred lawyer and a man of principle.

“He got nominated for SAN (Senior Advocate of Nigeria) three times but failed to make the final list, and he told me he would not lobby anybody for that title,” Mr. Adegboruwa said.

“He was a highly detribalised Nigerian, not many knew he was from Edo State. The bar has lost an icon, his place in Nigeria’s judiciary can never be filled.”

Before his death, Mr. Agbaje served as the in-house lawyer for Ben Bruce’s Silverbird Group, among other positions he held

Upshot