Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, the former Chairman, the Board of Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, LACN, today, described the late Prince AbdulJabar Bolasodun Adesumbo Ajibola, a retired Judge at the International Court of Justice, as an understanding father "who tolerated our early years of carefreeness."
The SAN also expressed shock over the death of Prince Bola Ajibola, SAN.
It is recalled that the former Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, died in the early hours of Sunday at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos at 89 years.
The death of Ajibola, popularly referred to as Prince Bola Ajibola, was made public through a statement in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital, by Segun Ajibola, the eldest son of the deceased, who is also a SAN.
In his condolence message, Chief Ayorinde acknowledged the accomplishments of the renowned legal icon as well as his huge contribution to the legal community both within and outside Nigeria.
He said he received the news of the death of Prince Ajibola with deep shock, adding that his demise was a personal loss to him, describing the late Prince Ajibola "as an intellectual colossus who stood tall in the field of scholarship and knowledge”.
Going down memory lane, Chief Ayorinde said: “On a very personal note, he was an understanding father who tolerated our early years of carefreeness. I remember our school days in London and escapades at his London residence when he was out of England.
“I console Prince Segun Ajibola, SAN, and his siblings. They have indeed lost a darling father. However, his life is most worthy of emulation.”
Chief Ayorinde described the late Ajibola as an asset, adding that his death has robbed Nigeria of the benefits of his wealth of experience in administration.
“The moon has set. Oh, what great innings he had. Of noble birth and pedigree. A colossus in every facet of life. Rest in peace, Papa.
“Judge Ajibola was committed to the ideals of making Nigeria a great country as much as he pursued justice, fairness, and equity for the less privileged in the society, without prejudice to the interest of other ethnic nationality.
“He was one of five Commissioners on the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, organized through the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
“As a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration with respect to the court's deliberations on the land dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon, Prince Ajibola and Justice Koroma of Sierra Leone were the judges who ruled in favour of Nigeria out of 15 Judges who sat on the matter on October 22, 2002.
“He was also the High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, UK, from 1999 to 2002 and the Chairman of the panel set up by the Plateau State government to probe the 2008 Jos riots.
“He was the editor of Nigeria's Treaties in Force from 1970 to 1990 and All-Nigeria Law Reports from 1961 to 1990. He has also authored many books, including 'Heavens in View', and various papers and articles on a range of legal subjects.
“He lived a life of service to God and humanity and no doubt contributed to legal jurisprudence both nationally and internationally.
“My thoughts and that of members of my family are with his wife and the immediate family. I pray that God will grant his immediate family the fortitude to bear the loss,” Chief Ayorinde said.
Prince Ajibola was born on the 22nd of March 1934 (89 years old) in Owu, near Abeokuta, Ogun State to the Owu royal family of Oba Abdul-Salam Ajibola Gbadela (II), 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. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Law (LL.B) at the Holborn College of Law, University of London between 1959 and 1962 and was called to the English Bar at the Lincoln's Inn in 1962.
Prince Ajibola returned to Nigeria to practice Law and was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the 5th of June 1986.
Prince Ajibola served as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association from 1984 to 1985 and was appointed as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the position he held between 1985 and 1991.
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