The new High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Court of St James, His Excellency Ambassador George Adesola Oguntade has resumed duty at the Nigerian High Commission in London.
The ambassador is the first substantive High Commissioner since Dr Tafida Dalhatu was recalled in 2015. In the past 2 years, the UK has had 2 acting Nigerian High Commissioners at the court of St James. Ambassador Kunle Bamgbose was the acting High Commissioner before he handed to Simon Ogah also in an acting capacity till he was recalled earlier this year.
Born March 10, 1940 Justice Oguntade, is a retired Nigerian jurist who served as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria from May 19, 2004 to May 10, 2010.
George Oguntade was born in Epe, Lagos State where he completed his basic formal education. He attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School till 1958 after which he worked as a court clerk at the High Court of Justice, Ibadan between 1958 and 1961 before he left for the United Kingdom for further studies.
He graduated from Holborn College of Law in 1964 before he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in 1965.
He was called to the Nigerian Bar on January 15, 1966.
Retd Justice George Oguntade with his wife Modupe
Justice Oguntade worked in private law practices for 14 years and in September 1980 was appointed a Judge of the Lagos High Court
Between September 1987–May 2004, George served as Presiding Justice for several State Courts of Appeal in Nigeria until his appointment as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on May 19, 2004.
Having attained the statutory retirement age of 70 years, George Oguntade retired from the Supreme Court Bench on May 10, 2010. On September 16, 2015, He was appointed Chancellor of the Lagos State University Governing Council by Akinwunmi Ambode.
The retired Justice Oguntade is married with children and grandchildren.
He arrived on London on the 8th of October and he has officially resumed duty. He will be deputised at High Commission by Dr Kabiru Bala.