The National Conference on Thursday morning mourned the death of human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Barrister Bamidele Aturu.

Raising a Point of Order immediately after the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings for Wednesday, the Labour Party Chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyawu, informs delegates that Nigeria has lost a patriot, comrade and lawyer who fought for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.

Chief Nwanyawu also pays glowing tribute to Barrister Aturu calling him a fighter for the oppressed people of Nigeria. According to him, Barrister Aturu used the instrumentality of the law to ensure justice in Nigeria.

In response to the prayer of Chief Nwanyawu that the National Conference should honour the departed lawyer, the conference chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, says that members of the national conference commiserate with the family of Barrister Aturu.

Bamidele Aturu died in a Lagos hospital on Wednesday evening after a brief illness, aged 49. He studied law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.

He shot to limelight as a fighter against power abuses when, as a member of the National Youth Service Corps, he refused to shake the hand of a military administrator of Niger State, Col. Lawan Gwadabe, in 1988 during his passing out parade declaring that the military had caused great harm to the democratic aspirations of Nigerians.