Sunmonu Olayiwola Kusamotu was born in the 16th of June,1932 to the family of Oba Arisekola Kusamotu Oyewole II, Akirun of Ikirunland, Osun state( a ranking Oba in Yoruba land and a prominent member of the council of chiefs in the Western region, and a devout Muslim ) and Alhaja Awawu Adeoti, the great merchant. These attributes account for his rich family heritage.
Olayiwola attended All Saints primary school in Oshogbo, Osun state. He had his secondary education at the Abeokuta Grammar School. He proceeded to London after working briefly at Barclays Bank in Ibadan.
Always a diligent student, he distinguished himself in his studies. He attended the London School of Economics, University of London, where he obtained his LLB and passed his bar exams to become a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. He returned to Nigeria to attend the Nigerian Law School, which the Balewa Government had introduced. His contemporaries were Late Alao Aka Bashorun, Hon Justice ML Uwais(Former Chief Justice of the Federation), Fidelis Nwadiaolo SAN, Oyeabor Obi SAN, Evans Enwerem (Pioneer Senate President in the 4th Republic.), Professor A.B. Kasunmu, to mention a few with who he maintained fond and mutually beneficial friendships all his life.
Olayiwola’s working career as a lawyer started at Ibadan and Oshogbo during
the turbulent Wild West Crisis in the early sixties. At the time, his Hillma car WH 514, was unmistakable and fondly remembered. However, his practice was cut short when the military took over power in 1966. Despite this, he was not deterred by setbacks. He continued his professional carrier by joining the Chambers of Chief Nekan Ademola and Olatawura in Ibadan, and the struggle for a better life continued. After his initial foray into private practice, he pivoted briefly into corporate practice as legal adviser of Wemabod – the signature investment Vehicle by which Yoruba land pioneered industrial development among the three regions that emerged in Nigeria at independence – in the late sixties.
Olayiwola Kusamotu was affectionately referred to by his peers as Kush of LSE or Kush of London in his early days. Later on in life, he was affectionately referred to by his professional peers and friends, old and young, as Babanloya.
His name in Nigeria’s legal precedent was formally entrenched in the leading master and servant case of Kusamotu vs Wemabod Estate Limited [1976] NSCC 588 on wrongful dismissal of an employee and his right to an award of fair costs when he has been needlessly put to the expense of challenging the employer by suing and emerging victorious in a law court. Olayiwola Kusamotu successfully appealed to the Supreme Court on the failure of the trial court to award cost in his favour having found the termination of his employment wrongful. This case illustrates Olayiwola Kusamotu’s fidelity to seeking justice and being mindful of unwarranted tar on his reputation by following due process to the hilt to vindicate his rights, not sparing cost where justified.
He served as a pioneer director of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited, NITEL, a state-owned sole national telecoms operator. He later returned to private practice, focusing on consultancy and solicitor’s work. In this regard, many legal practitioners of his time enjoyed his quality referrals. Chief Rotimi Williams SAN and Professor Kasunmu SAN were his bosom network advocates. He was a regular visiting professional guest on the famous Black Table at Chief Rotimi William’s Chambers in Ilupeju in the 80s and 90s.
He was a man of providence and counted among his clientele during his more active days in practice the high and mighty in political and corporate Nigeria. Countless lawyers, including his children, gained stupendously from his counsel and experience, always humorously rendered. And by all that, they have made a success of their strides in the legal profession at the bar [inner and outer] and on the bench.
He was married to his beautiful wife for over 52 years. Pastor Mrs Stella Abioye Kusamotu a devoted Christian, and their marriage was blessed with lovely children and grandchildren.
His wife describes him as a special creation of God with special, unusual characteristics:
“Though from a royal family, but very humble. He never liked to be addressed as a Prince. Rather, he preferred being addressed as Mr Kusamotu. He was a special breed, very liberal and simple-hearted, and he never wanted to hold grudges or malice against anyone. He was spiritually strengthened and a good psychologist. He never hindered my beliefs as a Christian, even though he was the Muslim head of his family. He loved peace, and despite being challenged by some family and friends openly concerning my faith, he never relented in supporting my beliefs. He was a strongman, very focused and a God-sent partner.”
Olayiwola Sunmonu Kusamotu was a hardworking Muslim who dedicated his life to serving humanity. He is fondly remembered by his wife, Mrs Stella Abioye Kusamotu, children, grandchildren and sisters.
He passed away peacefully at his home in Lagos on the 11th March 2022 at the age of 89.