By Ademuyiwa Balikis
Renowned legal practitioner and celebrated writer, Olanrewaju Akinsola, popularly known as Onigegewura, has been conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The conferment was officially marked on September 29, 2025, at a ceremony in Abuja, where colleagues, legal luminaries, and academics gathered to celebrate his elevation to the inner bar. The recognition places him among an exclusive group of lawyers acknowledged for their outstanding contributions to the legal profession in Nigeria.
Akinsola is widely admired for his engaging historical writings under the pen name Onigegewura. Through his popular Onigegewura Blog, he has brought Nigeria’s history to life by connecting past events with contemporary issues in a style that has won him a large following.
He is the author of Echoes Across the Niger: Historical Tales of Contemporary Events in Nigeria, a book praised for its riveting retelling of historical narratives. He also ghost‐wrote Judging with Justice, the autobiography of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola.
Beyond writing, Akinsola has distinguished himself in law and arbitration. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. He has also been recognized by the British Council for professional achievement.
He was described as a rare combination of legal brilliance and historical insight, someone who has managed to leave an imprint both in the courtroom and in the literary world. His elevation to the inner bar celebrates not only his professional excellence as a lawyer but also his contributions to knowledge through his writings.
