A female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Sylvia Sinaba, drowned in the Oniru Private Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday while trying to save her secretary.

While the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident were still hazy, eyewitness account stated that the late Sinaba, who was a member of the Census Tribunal, drowned with the secretary she had tried to rescue.

It was learnt that the late senior advocate had joined other members of staff of her chamber for the end of year party of the legal firm.

“Her Legal Secretary, who was swimming, was struggling with the wave and she got in to rescue her. In the process, they both got taken by the high wave at the beach,” the source, who craved anonymity, said.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Lagos Police Command, Mr. Frank Mba, who spoke with SATURDAY PUNCH on Friday on the telephone, confirmed that the incident.

Mba, a Superintendent of Police, said the command did not have the details of the incident.

“We just heard that a SAN drowned at the Oniru Private Beach but we have not been fully briefed. So, we cannot make any comments on it until we complete our investigation into what had happened. A legal practitioner, Mr. Festus Keyamo, described the late Sinaba as an outstanding lawyer.

“She was a rare breed, brilliant, dedicated, committed learned friend. Even in death, she took the risk to help humanity. She was a shinning legal star,” he said.