Imagine a man who rises from the bustling streets of Ibadan, Akure & Abuja armed with nothing but unyielding determination and a passion for justice, to become a beacon of hope for the oppressed across Nigeria.

This is the electrifying story of Olukayode Abraham Ajulo, OON, SAN—better known as Kayode Ajulo—a trailblazing Nigerian lawyer, civil rights activist, arbitrator, lecturer, and public servant whose life is a masterclass in blending professional brilliance with heartfelt advocacy and unshakeable political courage.

His journey isn’t just a resume; it’s a rallying cry for anyone dreaming of turning personal triumphs into collective victories, proving that true greatness lies in lifting others as you climb your own peaks.

Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2001, Ajulo didn’t waste a moment. He kicked off his professional journey at the Federal Ministry of Justice, gaining invaluable insights into the machinery of national governance. A brief but transformative tutelage at Afe Babalola’s prestigious Emmanuel Chambers in Abuja followed, sharpening his legal acumen under one of Nigeria’s finest.

Barely two years at the bar, he rose to become the Head of Chambers at Dr Tunji Abayomi & Co.‘s Abuja office, where his innovative style of practice—particularly his generous pro bono services for the vulnerable—won hearts and built unbreakable bonds with people from all walks of life.

This compassionate approach didn’t just endear him to the masses; it propelled him into the political arena, where he boldly contested for the Senate seat in Nigeria’s, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, under the Labour Party banner.

Ajulo’s political star continued to rise as he became the youngest National Secretary of the Labour Party, a master strategist who also chaired the Ondo State Radio Vision Corporation, amplifying voices and ideas across the airwaves. Yet, in a move that showcased his integrity, he resigned from his national role, declaring his need to refocus on his legal practice and dedicate himself fully to serving humanity.

Building on his solid foundation, Ajulo pursued advanced studies: a Master of Laws in 2006 and a PhD in Workers’ Rights and Corporate Social Responsibility in 2017. These credentials fueled a career that spans continents and impacts lives profoundly. As the founder and managing partner of Kayode Ajulo & Co., Castle of Law—a high-end law firm specialising in litigation, arbitration, corporate law, and workers’ rights—he’s established a global footprint with offices in Nigeria and affiliations abroad, including the United Kingdom, his second home and where he invests wisely.

An Oxford-trained arbitrator with a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration, Ajulo’s elevation to Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in the UK cements his status as a global dispute resolution expert.

His courtroom triumphs are the stuff of legends: picture him leading a pro bono defence in 2021 that overturned a death sentence for teenager Adeolu Bamiteko, accused of stealing a phone, by exposing glaring prosecutorial flaws.

His accolades shine bright: Ondo State Advocate of the Year in 2017, the Knight of the Order of St. Paul, the prestigious national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 2022 from President Muhammadu Buhari, and numerous traditional titles like Bamofin of Akure Kingdom (elevated from Bamofin-Lewe) and Mayegun Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.

At the heart of his mission is the Egalitarian Mission Africa, his NGO championing equality in social, political, and economic realms through bold initiatives like Free-A-Prisoner-A-Day since 2003, freeing the innocent and restoring dignity, which boasts of freeing over five thousand inmates from the gulag.

As a consultant to the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Ajulo played a starring role as a recovery consultant, spearheading the refund of Paris Club debt deductions—recovering billions of dollars for states, correcting historical over-deductions, and fueling development projects nationwide. Though media scrutiny occasionally arose, Ajulo’s clarifications have always underscored transparency and justice.

A vocal critic of corruption and a staunch advocate for rule-of-law independence, Ajulo’s political journey with the All Progressives Congress (APC) reflects his fearless spirit. His oratory prowess and mentorship have earned him monikers like “legal colossus” and “pathfinder,” inspiring peers with his confidence and grace.

On a personal level, Ajulo’s legacy blooms in his family: he is happily married to Lady Kofoworola Ajulo and he’s the proud father of three female lawyers—aged 23, 21, and 20—who are carrying the torch of legal excellence forward.

Appointed Ondo State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in February 2024 under Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, he has unleashed reforms like the Anti-Land Grabbing Law, a Criminal Records Database, and digital legal services, while securing court victories for the state and his principal.

What truly sets Ajulo apart is his patriotic pivot: forsaking lucrative opportunities in Abuja, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Lagos, or London to return to Ondo State. Inspired by Ondo icons like Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, GCON, he chose grassroots impact over global glamour, applying his blessings—wealth, honours, mentorship, and recoveries—to uplift his people.

He’s the epitome of a “rooted cosmopolitan”: world-class yet homebound, proving that patriotism fuels progress.

Ajulo’s saga is more than a biography; it’s an exhilarating call to action.

In a world fixated on wealth and comfort, he reminds us that our talents are divine trusts for the greater good. By sacrificing ease for service—through pro bono heroics, billion-naira recoveries, and state-level reforms—he shows that true fulfilment comes from bridging divides, defending the vulnerable, and mentoring tomorrow’s leaders.

Let his story ignite your own: step beyond your comfort zone, wield your blessings boldly, and build a legacy that echoes eternity. In serving others, we discover our highest selves.

Kayode Ajulo this is your life!

The minister of art, culture and creative economy, Hannatu Musawa, has spoken out about her failed marriage to Abdul Samad Rabiu, billionaire industrialist and BUA Group chairman. 

Hannatu, in an interview on MIC ON, said she maintains a close relationship with her ex-husband. She explained that their shared roots and long-standing ties between both families have made it natural for them to remain connected and respectful.

The minister praised Rabiu, adding that she deeply admires him and is proud to remain associated with him.

“Abdul Samad is my ex-husband. However, we happened to come from a background where once you’re joined together, you continue to participate in each other’s lives. We were married, and now we are family, brother and sister, best of friends,” she said.

“I think it has a lot to do with the kind of families that we come from. His father and my father come from the same community, so the families all knew each other even before we were born, and we were joined.

“His grandmother, Hajia Bua, the matriarch of the family, is somebody that I continue to love very deeply. My daughter Hadiza is named after her, and of course his mother is like my mother.

“His mother is one of the sweetest, most wonderful, purest, genuine souls I have ever known. So we continue to share a deep respect, love, and support for each other.”

She painted a picture of a relationship built on profound admiration and active encouragement. She hailed Rabiu’s character beyond his public persona as a business titan, highlighting his kindness and philanthropy.

“He’s my greatest cheerleader and supporter in my career, and I continue to also be his greatest cheerleader,” she said.

“I shall continue to be proud to see the way he flourishes and to be proud to be associated with someone who has the kind of philanthropy and heart that Abdulsamad has.

“People see him as a businessman, but I know him as a person who is the kindest person that I know. He is just a genuinely kind-hearted, good human being, so it’s really very difficult not to continue to have a good relationship.”

Reflecting on their past marriage, Musawa expressed no regrets, framing it as a foundational chapter that led to lasting personal and professional growth.

“…To think about it, I’m not sure I would change anything about my marriage to Abdulsamad. I’m quite happy with the way things worked out, and I still maintain my friend and family, and I still have my career as well, and the ability to inspire other women to be greater than perhaps what they would have thought they would be,” she added.

“Abdulsamad will always have my heart, no doubt about that. He is one of the greatest experiences that I’ve ever had, but no regrets whatsoever, absolutely just happiness and pride in him as a member of my family.”

Brooklyn Beckham, son of former captain of England football team, David Beckham, has addressed his long-running estrangement from his parents, maintaining that he has no desire for reconciliation.

Brooklyn, in a lengthy statement via his Instagram story, said he had tried for years to keep family issues private but felt compelled to speak after what he described as continued media briefings by his parents and their team.

He also accused his parents of controlling narratives about the family through the press and social media, describing public displays as “performative” and relationships as “inauthentic”.

He alleged that efforts to protect a public image had come at the expense of innocent people and strained family bonds.

“I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private. Unfortunately, my parents and their team have continued to go to the press, leaving me with no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed,” he wrote.

“I do not want to reconcile with my family. I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life. For my entire life, my parents have controlled narratives in the press about our family. The performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into.

Brooklyn with his parents

“Recently, I have seen with my own eyes the lengths that they’ll go through to place countless lies in the media, mostly at the expense of innocent people, to preserve their own facade. But I believe the truth always comes out.”

The 26-year-old said tensions escalated around his 2022 wedding to Nicola. He claimed his mother cancelled plans to make Nicola’s wedding dress at the last minute, forcing her to urgently find another designer.

He also alleged that, weeks before the wedding, his parents pressured him to sign away rights to his name, a move he said would have affected him, his wife and their future children.

According to Brooklyn, his refusal to sign the deal changed how he was treated. He further alleged that his mother called him “evil” during wedding planning and that family members told him on the eve of the ceremony that Nicola was “not blood” and “not family”.

He also recounted an incident at the wedding reception where, instead of a planned first dance with his wife, he was unexpectedly called on stage to dance with his mother in front of about 500 guests, an experience he described as “humiliating”.

“My parents have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasn’t stopped. My mum cancelled making Nicola’s dress in the eleventh hour despite how excited she was to wear her design, forcing her to urgently find a new dress. Weeks before our big day, my parents repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name, which would have affected me, my wife, and our future children,” he added.

“They were adamant on me signing before my wedding date because then the terms of the deal would be initiated. My holdout affected the payday, and they have never treated me the same since. During the wedding planning, my mum went so far as to call me “evil” because Nicola and I chose to include my Nanny Sandra, and Nicola’s Naunni at our table, because they both didn’t have their husbands. Both of our parents had their own tables equally adjacent to ours.

“The night before our wedding, members of my family told me that Nicola was “not blood” and “not family.” Since the moment I started standing up for myself with my family, I’ve received endless attacks from my parents, both privately and publicly, that were sent to the press on their orders. Even my brothers were sent to attack me on social media, before they ultimately blocked me out of nowhere this last Summer.

“My mum hijacked my first dance with my wife, which had been planned weeks in advance to a romantic love song. In front of our 500 wedding guests, Marc Anthony called me to the stage, where in the schedule was planned to be my romantic dance with my wife but instead my mum was waiting to dance with me instead. She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone.”

He added that Nicola has been “consistently disrespected” by his family, alleging that women from his past were deliberately invited into their lives to make the couple uncomfortable.

Brooklyn concluded that stepping away from his family has brought him peace and relief from lifelong anxiety.

“I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life. We wanted to renew our vows so we could create new memories of our wedding day that bring us joy and happiness, not anxiety and embarrassment. My wife has been consistently disrespected by my family, no matter how hard we’ve tried to come together as one,” he wrote.

“My mum has repeatedly invited women from my past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us both uncomfortable. Despite this, we still travelled to London for my dad’s birthday and were rejected for a week as we waited in our hotel room trying to plan quality time with him. He refused all of our attempts, unless it was at his big birthday party with a hundred guests and cameras at every corner.

“When he finally agreed to see me, it was under the condition that Nicola wasn’t invited. It was a slap in the face. Later, when my family travelled to LA, they refused to see me at all. My family values public promotion and endorsements above all else. Brand Beckham comes first. Family “love” is decided by how much you post on social media, or how quickly you drop everything to show up and pose for a family photo opp, even if it’s at the expense of our professional obligations.

“We’ve gone out of our way for years to show up and support at every fashion show, every party, and every press activity to show “our perfect family.” But the one time my wife asked for my mum’s support to save displaced dogs during the LA fires, my mum refused. The narrative that my wife controls me is completely backwards. I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life. I grew up with overwhelming anxiety.

“For the first time in my life, since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared. I wake up every morning grateful for the life I chose, and have found peace and relief. My wife and I do not want a life shaped by image, press, or manipulation. All we want [is] peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family.”