Frederick Rotimi Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rotimi Williams
QC, SAN
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| Regional Minister for Local Government | |
| In office 1954–1958 |
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| Preceded by | Obafemi Awolowo |
| Regional Minister for Justice | |
| In office 1958–1960 |
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| Prime Minister | Tafawa Balewa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 December 1920 Lagos, Nigeria |
| Died | 26 March 2005 (aged 84) |
| Political party | Action Group |
Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams (16 December 1920 – 26 March 2005) was a very important Nigerian lawyer. He was the first Nigerian to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). This is a special title for experienced lawyers.
In the 1950s, he was part of a political group called the Action Group. He later became a minister, looking after local government and justice. He was also the head of the Nigerian Bar Association in 1959. He stopped being involved in politics in the 1960s.
During his career, he worked on many important court cases. One famous case, Lakanmi vs the Western Government of Nigeria, decided that a military government could not just take someone's property. Chief Williams was also a Yoruba chieftain, which is a traditional leader. He helped represent the Oba of Lagos, Adeniji Adele, in court.
Early Life and Education
Rotimi Williams was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on 16 December 1920. His older brother, Akintola Williams, became a famous accountant. Rotimi's father and uncle were both lawyers.
He went to primary school at Methodist Ologbowo School. Then he attended C.M.S. Grammar School in Lagos for his secondary education. He was offered a scholarship to study engineering. But he chose to become a lawyer instead.
He finished his law degree in 1942. He became a lawyer in London in 1943. In 1948, he started the first Nigerian-owned law firm. It was called "Thomas, Williams and Kayode." He started it with Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode and Chief Bode Thomas.
Early Political Career
In 1943, Rotimi Williams became the first Nigerian lawyer to work for the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Soon after, he joined politics. He became a member of the Nigerian Youth Movement. He rose to be the general secretary of this group.
Later, he joined another political group called the Action Group. He became their legal adviser in the early 1950s. He also became a traditional chief, holding the title of the Apesin of Itoko. This allowed him to join the House of Chiefs in the Western region. He also served on the region's privy council, which was an important advisory group.
In 1953, he was elected to the Lagos Town Council. He later became its chairman. In 1957, he made history again. He became the Western Region's Attorney General. This meant he was the chief legal officer for the region. In 1958, he was made a Queen's Counsel (QC). He was one of the first two Nigerians to receive this special honor.
Working on the Constitution
On 18 October 1975, Rotimi Williams became the head of the Constitutional Drafting Committee. This group was created to write a new set of rules for Nigeria. These rules would become the country's constitution. The military government of Obasanjo had to approve this new constitution.
He led the committee to create a plan that would unite different groups in Nigeria. They suggested that a presidential winner should get at least 25% of the votes in most states. They also said that each of Nigeria's 19 states should have a minister. And political parties should have support in many states too. These ideas helped make Nigeria more fair and united.
