BREAKING: Renowned Scholar, Ex-AG Alfred Kasunmu D!es

The Nigerian legal community has been thrown into mourning following the death of renowned legal scholar, advocate and former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Professor Alfred Bandele Kasunmu, SAN.

Kasunmu died peacefully in the early hours of Sunday, August 9, 2026, at the age of 92, according to a statement issued by his family.

The family described the late professor as a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather whose life was dedicated to law, scholarship and public service.

The family said his death marked the end of a life characterised by significant contributions to Nigeria’s legal profession and academic community.

Born on May 23, 1934, in Lagos to parents from Ilesa, Osun State, Kasunmu received his early education at Elizabeth Fowler Memorial School, Reagan Memorial Baptist School and Baptist Academy in Lagos.

He later travelled to the United Kingdom for higher education and studied at University College London, where he obtained Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees.

Kasunmu was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1964 and began his academic career in the same year.

He joined the Faculty of Law at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, as one of its pioneer lecturers before moving to the University of Lagos in 1971 as a senior lecturer.

He later became a Professor of Law and served as Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Lagos between 1973 and 1975.

His extensive academic career established him as one of the prominent legal scholars of his generation and earned him recognition among successive generations of Nigerian lawyers.

In 1975, Kasunmu was appointed Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, a position he held for three years.

He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on January 25, 1978, becoming one of the early members of Nigeria’s Inner Bar. He was also a Notary Public of Nigeria.

Throughout his career, Kasunmu combined legal practice, academic scholarship and public service, appearing before courts at various levels and participating in arbitration proceedings in Nigeria and abroad.

He was also involved in the authorship of influential legal texts and published numerous academic papers covering different areas of law.

His legal practice spanned several decades and included representing Nigerian and expatriate clients in a wide range of legal matters.

Members of the legal profession have continued to regard Kasunmu as a respected scholar, mentor, advocate and statesman whose contributions helped shape generations of Nigerian lawyers.

His death marks the loss of one of the notable figures whose career bridged legal scholarship, courtroom advocacy and public service in Nigeria.