John Otunba Payne

John Augustus Otunba Payne (1839–1906) was a Nigerian sheriff; administrator and diarist who was a prominent personality in Lagos during the nineteenth century. He was a Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Lagos and he also served as a registrar in various colonial departments such as the Police Court, the Chief Magistrate's Court, the Court of Civil and Criminal Justice and the Petty Debt court.[1] He produced an annual West African and Lagos Almanac which published some historical notes. He was also the convener of a forum called the Society for the Propagation of Religious Education.

Omoba

Otunba Payne
Born
John Augustus Otunba Payne

1839
Died1906 (aged 66–67)
Cause of deathMurder
NationalityNigerian
Occupationsheriff

History

Payne was born in 1839, his father was from a royal house in Ijebu Ode.[2][3] He was one of the earliest products of CMS Grammar School, Lagos. He was a close friend of James Johnson and was a layman and warden at Christ Church Cathedral, Lagos. He also counseled the Awujale of Ijebuland to allow Christian missionaries. Through his influence, a Christian preacher was allowed to preach in Ago Iwoye.[4]

Payne was also noted for his writings in his annual almanac. One of his entries includes that of the court appearance of ex-Oba Dosunmu, who had been subpoenaed. Payne was charged with administering the solemn oath through an interpreter.[5]

Death

Payne was murdered in his residence in Lagos by an unknown assailant in 1906.[6] His murder was never solved.

See also

References
  1. Elias, T. O. (1956). Makers of Nigerian law. London: Hazell Watson & Viney. P. 13
  2. Kaye Whiteman (2013). Lagos: A Cultural and Literary History Volume 5 of Landscapes of the Imagination. Andrews UK Limited. ISBN 9781908493897.
  3. Isidore Okpewho; Carole Boyce Davies; Ali A. Mazrui (2001). The African Diaspora: African Origins and New World Identities. Indiana University Press. p. 410. ISBN 9780253214942.
  4. J. D. Y. Peel. "Conversion and Tradition in Two African Societies: Ijebu and Buganda". Past & Present, No. 77 (November 1977), pp. 108-141.
  5. Elias, p. 14.
  6. L. C. Gwam (1967). Great Nigerians: First Series, Volume 1. Times Press. p. 16.
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