President Muhammadu Buhari and some eminent Nigerians yesterday condoled with the family of former attorney-general of the federation and minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), who has passed on at 89.
Ajibola, a former jurist of International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, Netherlands, died in the early hours of Sunday at an hospital in Lagos State following age related ailments.
His remains was interred Sunday afternoon in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The 89-year-old legal luminary was buried within the sprawling premises of the Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA), a Centre he founded decades ago on Abiola Way axis of the Olusegun Obasanjo Hilltop Estate in Abeokuta, in accordance with the Islamic rites supervised by the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sheik Sa’dallah Bamgbola after the Janazah prayer.
Earlier, the remains of the former justice minister had arrived in his Olusegun Obasanjo Hilltop Estate residence around 10am in a motorcade manned by men of the Ebony Casket before it was moved into the waiting Escalade caravan at about 2pm, with solemn prayers render by families and well- wishers.
While commiserating with the legal community in Nigeria and worldwide, President Buhari, in a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, noted that the outstanding lawyer and Eminent Jurist used his God given knowledge, intellect and talent to advocate for justice, fairness and equity in all his undertakings within and outside Nigeria.
The president recalled that the late Ajibola who he described as legendary arbitrator was at different times the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (1984-1985), president, The World Association of Judges, chairman, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria and president, World Bank Administrative Tribunal, among other notable accomplishments.
President Buhari noted that the late Ajibola, having risen to the pinnacle of his career, took his brilliance in law practice to the International Court of Justice at The Hague where he served meritoriously between 1991 and 1994.
Stating that he was also the Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, 1999 to 2002, Buhari said, “His contributions to the development of our legal system cannot be overstated, serving as the Attorney General and Minister for Justice at a critical period in the nation’s history. His patriotic inclinations, integrity and passion for service and advancement of humanity will continue to resonate after him”.
Buhari also sympathised with the government and people of Ogun State as they mourn the illustrious citizen for the educational and social development he brought to his community and environs.
He prayed that the Almighty would grant him Aljannah.
Also, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; former military president, Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd); former President Olusegun Obasanjo; deputy governor of Ogun State, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele, as well as the former governor and national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Aremo Olusegun Osoba, were among the eminent personalities that paid their last respect to the late Ajibola.
In his tribute, Babangida said he felt a deep sense of pain on hearing the news of the sudden demise of Ajibola.
He described the deceased as a great Nigerian, an unimpeachable patriot, a sound legal mind, humanist, and a quintessential legal luminary of global reputation.
“His death, no doubt, marked the end of an eventful career of an exceptional Nigerian, whose love for country was total”, he added.
Babangida, in a statement issued by his media aide, Prince Kassim Afegbua, further said, “As a government, when we tried to appoint Prince Ajibola as Attorney-General of the Federation, there were certain persons who cautioned us against it, saying the late Prince was a controversial personality, who would give us a headache.
“I insisted that that was the more reason why we should appoint him; with the hope that he would guide us on the path of law and reason, and not sentiments; which he did. As a true Nigerian patriot, throughout his service to the nation, he refused to receive a salary. He served our nation pro-bono.
“He was very passionate about the place of Nigeria in the comity of nations. There was never a day he asked to be paid his salaries during and or after his meritorious service to the nation. Prince Bola Ajibola is an exceptional patriot of repute.
May God Almighty, in His infinite mercies, grant him a peaceful rest in the hereafter. May God be with his family and grant them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. Rest in Peace, Prince; a patriot with an extraordinary touch,” Babangida said.
Also, former vice president and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday mourned the passing of Ajibola.
Atiku said the late eminent jurist made Nigeria proud when he served at The International Court of Justice at The Hague, adding that the country and the entire globe will mourn the passing of a great man of impeccable virtue.
In a statement he personally signed, Atiku said, “It is with a heart filled with pain, but with gratitude to the Almighty that I share my condolences about the passing of Prince Bola Ajibola. Pain because there are only a few Nigerians who grew in status to the heights of the Prince from a noble Egba family. I am happy in another way because, being a Muslim myself, I am certain that Prince Ajibola would, himself, have elected to make his passing in the glorious month of Ramadan.
“There are so many things to remember Prince Bola Ajibola for. That he was a doyen of the law profession and his accomplishments as a jurist of note is the most basic of the things that we shall tell of his memories”.
The secretary to government of the federation and chairman, Presidential Transition Council (PTC), Boss Mustapha, on behalf of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), also mourned the death of Prince Bola Ajibola.
In a statement by the director information in the office of the SGF, Willy Bassey, Mustapaha while chronicling his contributions to the development of the legal profession both locally and internationally, described him as a respectable Judge having served at home as the minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, as well as Judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, Netherlands, from 1999-1994.
Mustapha recalled that Ajibola also contributed to the development of Nigeria’s educational sector as founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“He was also a diplomat of repute having served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1999-2002”, he added.
FEC condoled with the government and people of Ogun State, family and friends of the deceased, and prayed to God to grant him Aljanah Firdaus.
The High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Amb Sarafa Tunji Isola, also expressed his profound sadness over the demise of an erstwhile Attorney-General of Nigeria and President of Nigeria Bar Association, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN).
Isola in a letter of condolence yesterday made available to journalists said Ajibola was a noble prince, a godly humanist, an adherent Muslim, an outstanding legal luminary, an erudite judge, a quintessential diplomat, and a committed educationist.
He said he received the news of the passing of Ajibola with condolences.
He noted: “My heart goes out to you and your entire family at this difficult time. His demise is a loss not just to your family, Ogun State, and Nigeria, but to the entire world.
“His contributions to the legal field and Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts were invaluable. His footprints in the field of education as the founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta will remain indelible, and his legacies will be remembered for generations to come.”
In the same vein, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the death of Ajibola, describing his death as a big loss to the legal profession, the education sector, Ogun State and Nigeria as a whole.
Governor Sanwo-Olu described Prince Ajibola as a seasoned administrator and philanthropist who served his country and the world meritoriously at different levels.
In a condolence message issued by his chief press secretary, Gboyega Akosile, yesterday, Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the ex-ICJ Judge for his legacies, sacrifice and dedication to nation-building and service to mankind.
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