A former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed sorrow over the death of a Canada-based Nigerian lawyer, Ayokunle Odekunle, who succumbed to stage 4 cancer.
Okowa, in a post on his X account on Saturday, praised Odekunle’s brilliance, dedication and passion for the party and extended his heartfelt condolences to his wife, Halimah, and their children.
Announcing Odekunle’s death on Saturday, one X user, #KayceeMaduYEG, tweeted, “It is with profound sadness that I bring to you that our dear brother, friend and colleague Ayokunle Odekunle, #oddy4real, lost his courageous battle with stage 4 cancer.
“Ayo was a brilliant young lawyer who sacrificed so much to be called to the Alberta Bar this past June whilst terminally ill. We had hoped for a miracle.”
Reacting to the news, Okowa said, “Ayokunle Odekunle (#Oddy4Real) was a rare young man.
“The insightfulness of his tweets, the passion of his support for our party and myself, and the intentionality of his actions that he shared with us online, showed that he was a young man that was already doing great things and was destined to do even more.
“Sadly, that young, brilliant and promising life has been cut short by cancer. This is why, it is with great sadness, that my family and I send our heartfelt condolences to Oddy’s wife Halimah, their two beautiful children, and the PDP family.
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“We pray that the Almighty God grants the family that he has left behind peace at this difficult time.
“Rest in Peace #Oddy4Real. Thank you for your support!”
PUNCH Online investigations revealed that Odekunle worked as a barrister and solicitor at Queck and Associates Law Office, Alberta, Canada.
Odekunle, a 2011 Law graduate at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012. He was later called to the Alberta Bar in 2023.
He worked with Kenna Partners, a leading commercial litigation firm in Nigeria. As a litigator in Nigeria, he took on many high-profile cases on behalf of numerous multinationals and secured victories.
Ayokunle’s practice centres around all aspects of Family Law, Immigration, Wills and Estate, and general litigation.
Odekunle is survived by his wife and children.