Buhari, Tinubu, Atiku Mourns Ex- AGF, Bola Ajibola Death

Prince Bola Ajibola, a former Judge of the International Court of Justice, Hague, Netherlands, has been buried in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Ajibola, who was also a former Attorney-General of Nigeria and the founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, died at 89. His death was disclosed by his eldest child, Segun Ajibola, in a statement on Sunday in Abeokuta.

Mr Ajibola, the founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, died on Saturday midnight after a long illness associated with old age, his family said. But before his death, he had written his name in gold on the sand of time especially in the law profession.

Commonly referred to as “Prince” in Abeokuta his home city, Mr Ajibola was born on 22 March, 1934, in Owu in Abeokuta, to the family of Abdul-Salam Ajibola Gbadela II, who was the traditional ruler of Owu between 1949 and 1972.

He attended Owu Baptist Day School and Baptist Boys’ High School in Abeokuta between 1942 and 1955, and obtained his bachelor’s degree in Law at the Holborn College of Law, University of London, between 1959 and 1962. Ajibola was called to the English Bar at the Lincoln’s Inn in 1962 but also came back to Nigeria to practise.

Ajibola served as the minister of justice during the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida and was also the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Prince Ajibola served as a Judge of the International Court of Justice from 1991 to 1994. The late judge was the High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2002.

Prince Ajibola was also one of the five commissioners on the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, set up by the Permanent Court of Arbitration. He was the chairman of the panel set up by the Plateau State Government to investigate the 2008 Jos riots.

One of his achievements is also the establishment of an Islamic and co-educational institution, Crescent University, in 2005.

Tributes

President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the news of the death of a one-time Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola, SAN.
Buhari, in a message signed by Femi Adesina, his spokesperson, condoled with the family of the renowned jurist, who passed on at 89.
He also commiserated with the legal community in Nigeria and worldwide.
He noted that the lawyer used his God-given knowledge, intellect and talent to advocate for justice, fairness and equity in all his undertakings within and outside Nigeria.
Buhari averred 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.
According to Buhari, Ajibola contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria’s legal system while he served as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice at a critical period in the nation’s history.
Buhari’s message was also extended to the government and people of Ogun State, Ajibola’s home state.

Bola Tinubu, Nigerian president-elect
In a statement on Sunday, Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, described Ajibola as a patriotic citizen whose contributions to the country’s development will be documented in gold.
“I received the news of the passing, on Sunday, of Prince Bola Ajibola, SAN at 89, with profound sadness,” Tinubu said.
“The former Nigeria’s minister of justice and leader of the bar was an eminent statesman and legal icon whose contributions to national progress and development will be written in gold.
“During his earthly sojourn, Prince Ajibola didn’t just serve his country with his gift of extraordinary brilliance as a lawyer, he served the world as a judge of International Court of Justice in Hague and member of its Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
“As ICJ judge, Ajibola made his mark as one of the brightest legal minds in the world in many decided cases involving state actors across the world. Through his excellent performance, he brought honour and dignity to Nigeria.
“In his later years, he devoted himself to the promotion of Islam and expansion of the frontier of knowledge through training and development of cutting-edge manpower for national growth with the establishment of Crescent University in Abeokuta, his home-town.
“Ajibola will be remembered for his patriotism and love for Nigeria and his countrymen and women regardless of their ethnic origin or religious persuasions.
“Although we had hoped and prayed that Ajibola would still be around with us for a little more time to witness the dawn of a new era of renewed hope for our people in a better, stronger, more secure and more prosperous Nigeria, however, we thank Almighty Allah that he lived to an advanced age and left behind important legacies.”

Former Nigerian Vice-President Atiku Abubakar

The former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, in his condolence statement described Ajibola as a man of impeccable virtue..
“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,” Atiku said.
“Of course, he did the country proud when he served at the International Court of Justice at The Hague, as well as during his years of service as Nigeria’s envoy to the United Kingdom. But what was spectacular about the late eminent jurist was how his values of forthrightness and candour, which, by the way, is emblematic of his Egba heritage, reflected in all other spheres of his earthly engagements.
“As a diplomat, jurist, educationist – or any other role that you may wish to describe the late Prince Bola Ajibola, what is consistent about his character is the overwhelming presence of rectitude and forbearance in every of his endeavours. Those two qualities of his personality are the secret codes to his achievements in life. I am sure that they are qualities that his family and friends will be proud of, and we should immortalize in memory of him.
“Prince Ajibola was always at peace with his Creator and fellow humans when he was at this side of the divide and the legacies of his lifetime should be a beacon that should call younger Nigerians to an exemplary life that he lived.
“While I condole with the Ajibola family and the good people and government of Ogun state over the loss of such an illustrious son, I must say that the country and the entire globe will mourn the passing of such a great man of impeccable virtue. I pray that the Almighty Allah will give his family the fortitude to accept the pass of a patriarch and that his soul shall be granted easy access into Al-Janah Firdaus.”

Alhaji Zikrulla Kunle, CEO of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)
Similarly, the Chairman/ CEO of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) , Alh Zikrulla Kunle Hassan, on behalf of the management and staff of the Commission wishes to express his heartfelt condolences to the family of the former Minister of Justice and Founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, on the passing away of the patriarch, Prince (Although) Abdul Jabar Bola Ajibola who died yesterday.
His death is not only a loss to the family but to the people of Ogun state, the entire Muslim Umma and Nigeria as a whole. As an Elder statesman, Jurist and a trail- blazer, his indelible mark will be very difficult to fill.
The late judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Hague, Netherland, is not aTeacher but also a mentor and source of inspiration to many. His death leaves a heartache no one can heal. However, I take solace in the fact that those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday.
His contribution to the propagation of Islam and knowledge will be forever remembered and missed. Words indeed cannot fully expressed my gratitude but my prayer is that his soul finds peace and comfort in Aljanat.