Tragedy struck on January 1, 2025, as 58-year-old Pastor and Magistrate, Olasanmi Ogunkanmi, serving at the Ikeja Magistrate Court, suddenly passed away.
He reportedly slumped and died just hours after returning from a three-week holy pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Israel.
Magistrate Ogunkanmi had traveled with the first batch of Lagos pilgrims and completed his pilgrimage with great joy and fulfillment. However, his sudden demise has left family, colleagues, and the Lagos judiciary community in shock.
A staff member at the Ikeja Magistrate Court described Ogunkanmi as a gentle, humble, and amiable person who performed his duties diligently and conscientiously. Reflecting on his last moments, the colleague noted, “He returned on January 1, 2025, filled with excitement and satisfaction when suddenly, God called him home.”
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, visited the widow of Magistrate Ogunkanmi at their residence in Ikorodu, Lagos, on Friday, January 17, 2025. During the visit, Adegbite extended his heartfelt condolences and urged the bereaved family to trust in God during this challenging time.
Speaking to the widow, Adegbite said, “It was not an accident that late Magistrate Ogunkanmi passed away the night he successfully returned from performing the holy pilgrimage in Jerusalem. The occurrence makes his death providential.” He assured the family of the commission’s support in organizing a befitting burial for Ogunkanmi, who was a Justice of the Peace (JP) and a Pilgrimage Ambassador of Nigeria.
Final Rites
The late Magistrate Ogunkanmi will be laid to rest on February 7, 2025, in Lagos. A Service of Songs will precede the burial, scheduled for February 6, 2025.
Magistrate Ogunkanmi’s sudden departure leaves behind a legacy of service to the judiciary, the church, and his community. He will be remembered as a man of faith and integrity who lived a life dedicated to justice and spiritual devotion. His loss is deeply felt by his family, colleagues, and all who knew him. May his soul rest in peace.
