Rumour is universal. It knows no tribe, nationality or culture. Rumour is so powerful that some elements therein could be true and therefore makes other aspect of it to appear truthful to those who hear it.
On Friday, 30th October, 2026, I stopped over at a coffee shop just outside the Senegambia Hotel and opposite the venue of the disco night event for Demola Bakre Junior 60th Birthday.
I took my tea upstairs and attended the event .
When I was ready to leave, I stopped over again to get another cup of tea to help my throat as I was coughing as a result of too many stress in the last two weeks.
When I got to the shop, I met people of different Nationalities whose colour shows are mixtures of Gambians, Europeans, Arabs and some other Africans.
They were discussing in English language that the celebrant spent a lot to bring people from all over the world to attend his 60th birthday.
Some said, he must have spent hundreds of millions to bring them to Gambia from different parts of the world.
I could not let it slide, because Justice Demola Bakre junior is not just my acquaintance but a brother from my mother’s place at a Place we call Gbagura in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Not only is he not corrupt, his father retired as a Judge and lives a modest life till date at 95 in Nigeria.
I recalled when Ogun State needed to recruit Judges, it took serious efforts for Justice Demola Bakre OON, Senior to persuade the celebrant to leave thriving legal practice in Abuja, the Capital of Nigeria and join the bench.
In his words to me, “I know he is your brother, look, how much does anyone need to survive”?
He said to me also that as a retired judge, the government adjusted the pension of judges and what he earned at that time, was too much for him.
This was even an amount less than N1m a month.
He said, what does he need in life other than for him to play golf and relax at Abeokuta Club.
He said all these to persuade me to be part of voices to convince our brother to become a judge.
He said again, how many houses do you need in life?
That is the kind of home Justice Demola Bakre junior came from.
The rest of the story was that he accepted and became a judge and in my interaction with him, simple life is the best.
So I needed to face the people with rumour in the coffee shop; they even said that it is the belief of many that this man sponsored about 300 people to come to Gambia and paid for their hotel, flight and food.
I SAID CAPITAL NO.NO. NO.
They all waited quietly and listened to me as I lectured them the way I used to lecture my post Graduate Students in Accounting and Taxation Class when I used to teach for passion at Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta MBA Class.
The reason is to also stop fake stories such as “Judge in the Caribbean spent $2m to celebrate a birthday in Gambia”.
I told them that every participant paid for the trip and hotel while some of the other aspects of the events were sponsored by family and friends .
Golfers came to play to celebrate one of their own at their own cost.
I said to them, someone like me couldn’t have made it based on circumstances, in the first place I was too busy and forgot to pay.
When I reminded Justice Demola Bakre Junior, I would love to attend but was too busy and not sure I paid.
He told me registration was closed.
Just for information, he discussed my case with his elder sister in US, Tokunbo Adenekan thus:
Can you imagine Gbenga Adeoye is talking about attending when everything has closed.
Meanwhile Sister Tokunbo is my ally and Dolapo who is the younger sister to the celebrant is also my ally too in the tax world and as a Chartered Accountant before I decided to study law again.
So Sister Tokunbo asked him, which Gbenga Adeoye are you talking about; he said the Lawyer and the Accountant; that same Dr. Gbenga Adeoye?
Suddenly Sister Tokunbo said, for that one, she would reopen the door and let me in.
The rest was history.
Mr Ibrahim who handles tickets for the ValueJet Chartered Flight happens to be my person and everything worked like magic.
Brother Demola, the celebrant later told me the person I reported you to instead of telling you off; said you must be allowed to get on board.
That was how I paid and was able to join the team Gambia for Demola Bakre Junior @ hole 60.
People came for love. They sacrificed time and money.
From Spain, United States, United Kingdom, Nigeria and other places.
I said to the people spreading rumour, go to town and tell people he did not sponsor the people but people came because they love him.
I said to them, I needed to go to USA on October 24 from Nigeria and returned to Nigeria on 28th October, 2026 and then needed to fly again on 29th.October to Gambia…Is that not LOVE?
They agreed that is love despite my jet lag and slight cough.
One of the shop owners said, “Now I understand.
A Lawyer named Zainab who lives in Gambia was present during my explanations cum lecture.
To an extent, I was able to show them the truth.
There could be some people in Gambia and in the Caribbean who still carry such wrong notions, then this article becomes essential for them to understand.
Nigerians do not think that way anyway, we go all out with our full chest and our full wallet to celebrate whoever we love.
In fact, beside me at the roof top at the All White Dress Disco night was General Morakinyo Abiodun ( rtd) who by himself went into a supermarket to purchase a lot of drinks, lemon juice and so on to fill the table.
Willingly, Someone like Dotun Olaifa too was going up and down to make people at his table comfortable.
It was a gathering of who is who from Abeokuta, Commissioner of Health; Dr. Tomi Coker, Toyin Sogbesan, the immediate past GM of OGBC, Sokunbi from Ikorodu who I called an Egba man was also present, Golfers from Abeokuta Golf Club, some kings were seen in their traditional attires.
The likes of Justice Gboyega Ogunfowora, Sunday Oduntan, too many people to mention.
We took steps to dance to old school songs.
Those who grew up at Ibara GRA when Ogun State was created in 1976 as Children of Civil Servants that moved from Western Region HQ, Ibadan, in 1977 came in their numbers from all over the world.
I cited one Pastor Ayeola who was a member of our Church back then in Abeokuta about 31 years ago.
Engineer Ola Sobande an ex Shell Engineer and founding President of Egba Economic Summit Group where I now serve as President came despite his age to play golf at Senegal.He went through some stress with his passport in his bag as in another vehicle as he needed to cross the land border from Senegal to Gambia.
Tpl Adeogun a close ally of Justice Demola Bakre Junior and the different Strokes Golf Group from Abeokuta also came in their numbers.
Bimbo Salau a Lawyer who now lives in England as one of my good Aburo at Golf Club in Abeokuta back then was also in Gambia.She organised our own team to do an additional package of souvenirs.
Tolu Odugbemi of First Bank, Busayo Okundaye of Abuja, Deola Adeyemi, Tope from Spain and several others .Sister Fola from England who spoke about DBJ@ Cocktail night was full of joy and nice dancing steps.
Funmi Fadahunsi of wokcity restaurant in Abeokuta also came with full vibes.
Bashorun Ladi Adegbite was seen as he returned from Senegal so tired yet he went in showered and put on his usual kembe in Adire Fabrics at the Cocktail night.
I was too tired to go after him but I saw him. Surveyor
Dayo Folarin, Tayo, Dimeji Folami from Erunwon in Egba Ake also was seen taking pictures here and there.
Faces of those who grew up at Ibara GRA, Asero Estate where Baba Justice Demola Bakre built his house after leaving Government Quarters form parts of the faces.
You could see some people you saw the last 10 or 20 years at Gambia at the event.
The event was well organised and the bracelet for access was part of the souvenirs package given to everyone as you arrive at the Hotel.
Dolapo Orekoya provided the Adire pants of Yellow Colour for everyone before we left Nigeria.
In all, the celebration could only be described as a celebration of love and the life of a man of many paths.
During the Cocktail dance, I whisper to the celebrant; if this event had taken place in Nigeria; what you have done because the crowd could be about three to four thousand in Nigeria; from Compro Boys, to Ogun State University, Law School Class Mates, Abuja Legal Practice Circles, judges in Nigeria, Generation One of GRA, Asero Estate Community, Lagos group and too many to mention. He said that is why we are doing it here .
In all, we give thanks to God that the event went well and the dinner with black and white shirt and black bowl tile is the final one today.
Those above 60, may they live long in good health, those less than 60, may we get there in good health in Jesus name.
To our children, may they also celebrate 60 while we are still alive and call them this boy and that girl.
I must mention the celebrant’s wife Bukola Bakre and her vibes as she dances so well to celebrate her husband. The children must have learnt a lot about the spread of their father. Boluwatife & Tiwaloluwa Bakre..Congrats as you celebrate your father.
Happy birthday to Brother Babatunde Demola Bakre .
Long life, good health, peace of mind and daily joy shall be your portion in Jesus name.
The Author; Dr. Gbenga Adeoye is a Lawyer and Chartered Accountant and Current President of Egba Economic Summit Group in Abeokuta.
He writes to set the records straight and to also celebrate Justice Demola Bakre Junior.
He could be reached at dga@gbengaadeoye.com
