Christopher Sapara Williams
Encyclopedia
Christopher Alexander Sapara Williams (1855–1915) was the first indigenous Nigerian lawyer, called to the English bar on 17 November 1879. In addition to his legal practice, he came to play an influential role in the politics of Nigeria
during the colonial era.
Williams was the elder brother of Oguntola Sapara
, who became a prominent physician.
He was of Ijesha
origin, but was born in Sierra Leone
.
He studied the Law in London
at the Inner Temple
, and was called to the English bar on 17 November 1879.
Returning from the United Kingdom
, he began practicing law in Lagos Colony
on 13 January 1888.
He had an unmatched reputation as an advocate, and had intimate knowledge of unwritten customary law.
He enrolled in the Nigerian Bar Association
on 30 January 1888, and was Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association from 1900 to 1915.
Although Williams was the first indigenous Nigerian to formally qualify as a lawyer, he was not the only one to practice the law.
Due to the shortage of qualified lawyers, until 1913 it was common for non-lawyers with basic education and some knowledge of
English law to be appointed to practice as attorneys.
In 1903 there was a crisis over the payment of the tolls that were collected from traders by native rulers, although Europeans were exempted. The alternative was to replace the tolls by a subsidy. Governor William MacGregor
requested views from Williams, Charles Joseph George
and Obadiah Johnson as indigenous opinion leaders. All were in favor of retaining the tolls to avoid upsetting the rulers.
In 1903 governor MacGregor nominated Williams for a knighthood, but his recommendation was turned down.
In 1904 Williams moved that "the present boundary between the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria and the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria be re-adjusted by bringing the southern portion into Southern Nigeria, so that the entire tribes of the Yoruba-speaking people should be under one and the same administration".
Sir Frederick Lugard
had opposed this proposal on the grounds of administrative convenience, and the eventual decision largely followed his beliefs. The principle applied was to group people who were at roughly the same political and social level into one province rather than to try to align the provinces with ethnic boundaries.
In 1905, Williams visited England. While there, he made several suggestions to the Colonial Office for changes to imperial policy. These included establishing a teachers training college in Lagos, and having more continuity of policy by the governors of the colony.
Sapara Williams challenged the Seditious Offenses Ordinances of 1909, which suppressed press criticism of the government.
He pointed out that "freedom of the Press is the great Palladium of British liberty ... Sedition is a thing incompatible with the character of the Yoruba people, and has no place in their constitution ... Hyper-sensitive officials may come tommorrow who will see sedition in every criticism and crime in every mass meeting". Despite his plea, the bill became law.
Williams encouraged Herbert Macauley to convene an inaugural meeting of the Lagos Auxiliary of the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society on 30 August 1910, which gave Macauley a platform for producing popular opposition to colonial practices.
When Northern and Southern Nigeria were united in 1914, the new legislative council was headed by the Governor, and consisted of seven British officials, two British non-officials and two Nigerians, one of whom was Williams.
He died on 15 March 1915.
However, although Williams in many ways accepted European concepts and values, in October 1896 he sponsored an Egungun
dance, a traditional ceremony. Moves such as this by one of the leaders of the Ekitis in Lagos were welcomed by the traditional rulers of the Yoruba
.
Williams once said: "A lawyer lives for the direction of his people and the advancement of the cause of his country".
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
during the colonial era.
Williams was the elder brother of Oguntola Sapara
Oguntola Sapara
Oguntola Odunbaku Sapara was a doctor, originally from Sierra Leone, who spent most of his career in Nigeria. He was best known for his campaign against secret societies that were spreading smallpox.-Birth and education:...
, who became a prominent physician.
Early years
Williams was born on 14 July 1855.He was of Ijesha
Ijesha
The Ijesha , are a sub-ethnic of the Yoruba. This group is predominantly from the city and environs of Ilesha and the historic state of Ilesha in the same area....
origin, but was born in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
.
He studied the Law in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, and was called to the English bar on 17 November 1879.
Returning from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, he began practicing law in Lagos Colony
Lagos Colony
Lagos Colony was a British colonial possession centered on the port of Lagos in what is now southern Nigeria. Lagos was annexed on 6 August 1861 and declared a colony on 5 March 1862....
on 13 January 1888.
He had an unmatched reputation as an advocate, and had intimate knowledge of unwritten customary law.
He enrolled in the Nigerian Bar Association
Nigerian Bar Association
The Nigerian Bar Association is the umbrella body of all lawyers admitted to practice law in Nigeria.Any lawyer who satisfies the members of the Body of Benchers that they have good character and proficiency in the Bar Final Examination from the Nigerian Law School is automatically admitted.The...
on 30 January 1888, and was Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association from 1900 to 1915.
Although Williams was the first indigenous Nigerian to formally qualify as a lawyer, he was not the only one to practice the law.
Due to the shortage of qualified lawyers, until 1913 it was common for non-lawyers with basic education and some knowledge of
English law to be appointed to practice as attorneys.
Political career
Williams was nominated to the Legislative Council, serving as a member from 1901 until his death in 1915.In 1903 there was a crisis over the payment of the tolls that were collected from traders by native rulers, although Europeans were exempted. The alternative was to replace the tolls by a subsidy. Governor William MacGregor
William MacGregor
Sir William MacGregor GCMG, CB was a Lieutenant-Governor of British New Guinea, Governor of Newfoundland and Governor of Queensland.-Early life:...
requested views from Williams, Charles Joseph George
Charles Joseph George
Charles Joseph George was a successful SaroA "Saro" was a freed slave who had returned to Nigeria. trader who was appointed a member of the Legislative Council of the Lagos Colony from 1886 onwards.-Church leader:...
and Obadiah Johnson as indigenous opinion leaders. All were in favor of retaining the tolls to avoid upsetting the rulers.
In 1903 governor MacGregor nominated Williams for a knighthood, but his recommendation was turned down.
In 1904 Williams moved that "the present boundary between the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria and the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria be re-adjusted by bringing the southern portion into Southern Nigeria, so that the entire tribes of the Yoruba-speaking people should be under one and the same administration".
Sir Frederick Lugard
Frederick Lugard
Frederick John Dealtry Lugard, 1st Baron Lugard GCMG, CB, DSO, PC , known as Sir Frederick Lugard between 1901 and 1928, was a British soldier, mercenary, explorer of Africa and colonial administrator, who was Governor of Hong Kong and Governor-General of Nigeria .-Early life and education:Lugard...
had opposed this proposal on the grounds of administrative convenience, and the eventual decision largely followed his beliefs. The principle applied was to group people who were at roughly the same political and social level into one province rather than to try to align the provinces with ethnic boundaries.
In 1905, Williams visited England. While there, he made several suggestions to the Colonial Office for changes to imperial policy. These included establishing a teachers training college in Lagos, and having more continuity of policy by the governors of the colony.
Sapara Williams challenged the Seditious Offenses Ordinances of 1909, which suppressed press criticism of the government.
He pointed out that "freedom of the Press is the great Palladium of British liberty ... Sedition is a thing incompatible with the character of the Yoruba people, and has no place in their constitution ... Hyper-sensitive officials may come tommorrow who will see sedition in every criticism and crime in every mass meeting". Despite his plea, the bill became law.
Williams encouraged Herbert Macauley to convene an inaugural meeting of the Lagos Auxiliary of the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society on 30 August 1910, which gave Macauley a platform for producing popular opposition to colonial practices.
When Northern and Southern Nigeria were united in 1914, the new legislative council was headed by the Governor, and consisted of seven British officials, two British non-officials and two Nigerians, one of whom was Williams.
He died on 15 March 1915.
Beliefs
Williams' views on development of the colony included close association with European ideas and institutions, and he was against thoughtless and nonconstructive criticism of the administration.However, although Williams in many ways accepted European concepts and values, in October 1896 he sponsored an Egungun
Egungun
Egungun is a part of the Yoruba pantheon of divinities. In the indeginous religious system of the West African tribe of that name, the spirit is of central importance...
dance, a traditional ceremony. Moves such as this by one of the leaders of the Ekitis in Lagos were welcomed by the traditional rulers of the Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
.
Williams once said: "A lawyer lives for the direction of his people and the advancement of the cause of his country".