Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola is dead. He was said to have died at 89 of protracted illness associated with old age.
This was made known in a statement on Sunday by the late jurist’s eldest son, Segun Ajibola, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.
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Prince Ajibola was the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA from 1984 to 1985 before his appointment as Minister by the administration of Military President, Ibrahim Babangida. After his service as Minister, he was appointed as judge of the International Court of Justice at the Hague in the Netherlands.
He was also one of five commissioners on the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, organized through the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and once a High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom between 1999 and 2002.
On retirement from public service, he founded the Crescent University in Abeokuta, Ogun State, South-West Nigeria.
The remains of the late Prince Bola Ajibola will be buried in Abeokuta on Sunday according to Islamic rites.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola, SAN, who died at the age of 89.
While commiserating with the legal community in Nigeria and worldwide, President Buhari 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 legendary arbitrator was at different times, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (1984-1985); President, The World Association of Judges; Chairman, of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and President, of the World Bank Administrative Tribunal among other notable accomplishments.
President Buhari in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina avers 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. He was also the Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, from 1999 to 2002.
“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,” the President said.
President Buhari also sympathized with the Government and people of Ogun State as they mourn this illustrious citizen for the educational and social development he brought to his community and environs. He prays that the Almighty will grant him Aljannah.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
