“I’m committed to listening, working hard, and putting people and the environment first.”

John K. Atoyebi is a lawyer, former judge, public-sector investigator and community leader whose career has spanned law, public service and grassroots community work in Canada and internationally.

Before immigrating to Canada, John served as a Magistrate and District Court Judge in Nigeria, working on civil and criminal cases and promoting restorative justice. After arriving in Canada, he rebuilt his career from the ground up, working in retail, traffic control and construction while completing the requirements to practise law in Canada. He is now a member of the Law Society of British Columbia and the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society and practises as Principal Legal Counsel at Kebuiii Global Law Corporation.

John also spent more than two years as an Investigator with the Office of the Ombudsperson of British Columbia, examining complaints involving administrative fairness across more than 75 municipalities, regional districts and improvement districts. His work also included advising on whistleblower protections under the Public Interest Disclosure Act.

His commitment to public service extends deeply into the community. John serves on the City of Vancouver’s Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee, previously served on the Vancouver Heritage Commission and is Secretary of the Vancouver General Hospital Thrift Store Board. He is also Executive Director of the BC Black Advocacy Society and has helped create opportunities for Black British Columbians to participate more fully in civic and democratic life.

John is also active in food security and agriculture. As President of the African-Canadian Agricultural Producers Cooperative and a director of the African-Canadian Farmers Society, he has helped support farmer training and the production of culturally important foods in British Columbia.

John holds an LL.B. and LL.M. in Common Law and a Master of Intellectual Property and Development Policy. He is also pursuing an LL.M. at UBC’s Allard School of Law, where his research focuses on recidivism among previously incarcerated Canadians. In 2026, he received a BC Achievement Foundation Community Award for his community service.

Having experienced firsthand the challenges of rebuilding a career as a newcomer, John understands the pressures of housing costs, affordability and systemic barriers. He is running in Vancouver-Langara to bring a service-oriented approach grounded in fairness, accountability, sustainability and dignity to the Legislature.

Events