Kayode Ajulo justice reforms gather pace as Ondo’s Attorney General advances legal changes rooted in advocacy and public service

Olukayode Abraham Ajulo, OON, SAN, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, has intensified a programme of legal and institutional changes aimed at strengthening justice delivery while maintaining a long record of civil rights advocacy and public service across Nigeria.

Also read: National Award: Oodua Coalition congratulates Kayode Ajulo

Olukayode Abraham Ajulo, widely known as Kayode Ajulo, was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2001 and began his career at the Federal Ministry of Justice before undertaking further legal tutelage at Emmanuel Chambers under Aare Afe Babalola in Abuja.

Within two years at the bar, Olukayode Abraham Ajulo rose to Head of Chambers at Dr Tunji Abayomi & Co.’s Abuja office, earning a reputation for extensive pro bono representation for vulnerable citizens.

Olukayode Abraham Ajulo later moved into politics, contesting for the Senate seat in the Federal Capital Territory under the Labour Party and subsequently serving as the party’s youngest National Secretary.

Olukayode Abraham Ajulo also chaired the Ondo State Radio Vision Corporation before resigning from the national role to refocus on legal practice and humanitarian service.

Academic advancement followed. Olukayode Abraham Ajulo obtained a Master of Laws in 2006 and completed a PhD in Workers’ Rights and Corporate Social Responsibility in 2017.

As founder and managing partner of Kayode Ajulo & Co., Castle of Law, Olukayode Abraham Ajulo expanded practice areas to litigation, arbitration, corporate law and labour rights, while earning recognition as an Oxford-trained arbitrator and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in the United Kingdom.

In 2021, Olukayode Abraham Ajulo led a pro bono defence that overturned a death sentence imposed on a teenager after highlighting procedural lapses in prosecution. The case drew national attention to the importance of legal aid and due process.

Through the Egalitarian Mission Africa, Olukayode Abraham Ajulo has coordinated long-running prison decongestion efforts under the Free-A-Prisoner-A-Day initiative, assisting inmates whose cases involved wrongful detention or prolonged trials.

Olukayode Abraham Ajulo also served as a consultant to the Nigerian Governors Forum during the Paris Club refund process, participating in recovery efforts linked to historical over-deductions to states.

The role attracted scrutiny at the time, and Olukayode Abraham Ajulo publicly maintained that the engagement followed lawful consultancy processes.

In February 2024, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa appointed Olukayode Abraham Ajulo as Ondo State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

Since the appointment, Olukayode Abraham Ajulo has overseen the implementation of an Anti-Land Grabbing Law, the creation of a Criminal Records Database, and the introduction of digital legal service processes aimed at improving access and case management across the state’s justice system.

Honours received by Olukayode Abraham Ajulo include the national award of Officer of the Order of the Niger in 2022, the traditional title of Bamofin of Akure Kingdom, and professional commendations within the legal community.

Colleagues describe Olukayode Abraham Ajulo as combining courtroom advocacy with institutional reform, a profile shaped by years of civil rights work, political participation and legal scholarship.

Observers note that Olukayode Abraham Ajulo’s decision to concentrate efforts in Ondo State reflects a preference for local impact despite professional opportunities elsewhere.