Condolence messages and tributes have been pouring in over the death in the early hours of the day of Nigeria’s former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Prince Bola Ajibola. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former international jurist was 89.
President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his profound sadness over the demise of eminent elder statesman, who was also President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
While expressing his sympathy and condolences to the family of the legal luminary and founder of Crescent University Abeokuta, Tinubu acknowledged Ajibola’s important contributions to Nigeria’s political evolution and nation-building, legal profession and international jurisprudence.
In a condolence statement by his Media Office, the President-elect said: “I received the news of the passing, on Sunday, of Prince Bola Ajibola, SAN at 89, with profound sadness.
“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 (ICJ) in Hague and Member of its Permanent Court of Arbitration.
“As ICJ Judge, Justice 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.
“Prince 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 Prince 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.
“I join his immediate family, associates, professional colleagues and particularly Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and the good people of the state for the loss of this great son of the Gateway State and Nigeria.
I pray that Almighty Allah admit him to Aljanna Fridaus”.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun also commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari, and the nation’s judiciary on Ajibola’s passing.
He described the late jurist as a jewel of the law profession and an accomplished judicial officer.
In a statement in Abeokuta by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Kunle Somorin, the governor described Ajibola’s death as a big loss to the judiciary, saying his legacies in the justice administration system, philanthropy and educational development would never be forgotten.
Abiodun also commiserated with the Owu royal family of the former minister, his friends, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as members of the Baptist Boys’ High School, Old Students Association.
He noted that the legal icon’s death was “saddening, devastating and marked the end of an era”.
He maintained that the death of the illustrious son of the state, a celebrated jurist and judicial activist, public intellectual and elder statesman was a severe blow to everyone who knew him.
“Words can not adequately convey my heartfelt sorrow over papa’s death, for he was a kind and beautiful soul, who spread love to all who encountered him”, the statement read.
The governor, who recalled that Ajibola, after serving as NBA president, and also served as the nation’s No 1 law officer, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, answered the call to higher duties at the International Court of Justice, Hague, in Netherlands.
“He was a jewel of the law profession and an accomplished judicial officer of prodigious hue. Baba was a go-getter who delivered on any assignment committed to his hands because of his belief that service should always come first.
“Besides, he was a great religious influencer and philanthropist who established the faith-based Crescent University in his hometown, Abeokuta”, Abiodun stressed.
The governor however urged the Olowu of Owu, Oba Saka Matemilola, the Olowu-in-Council, sons and daughters of the Ajibola lineage and the entire Gbadela Royal Dynasty of Owu to be consoled by the fact that the deceased selflessly served God, humanity during his impactful life.
“On behalf of the government and people of Ogun State, I commiserate with the immediate family of the deceased on this very huge loss.
“May the Almighty Allah grant the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”, Abiodun said.
From Totonto in Ontario, Canada came a recollection by a famous Egba son, Chief Femi Shodunke, the Oluwo-Baaroyin. He wrote: “Oh whao! My ‘friend’, Prince (Olori-Omooba) Abduljabaar Bolasodun Ajibola, a great Owu Prince in Egbaland, is gone!
“Indeed, I changed his perception of journalists in Abeokuta and vice versa with my ALL newspapers front page interview on Bakassi Pennisula (which I conducted with him but shared the EXCLUSIVE story with my colleagues to his over-bewilderment) !Indeed, I didn’t record the interview. I only jotted my points.
“Baba” (Prince Bola Ajibola) was shocked with the accuracy in my quotes of his key arguments. (Sho sho ore mi atata o jo mi loju – Sho sho my friend you surprised me.).
“Three things followed his admiration of this story shock: he gave me midget recorder, I traveled with him to Cameroon to witness the handing over of some villages between Nigeria and Cameroon (which was EXCLUSIVE front page story for me in The Comet then), and we became good friends eating meals together often at his Asero, Abeokuta home and sitting on the floor to yab regularly. Awon guys bene putra, also. Lol.
“Quite frankly, I knew a bit about this great Nigerian though I disagreed with him at a point – me, I no go gree on certain principles, either you’re rich or poor.
“Anyway, he was a man who was full of native sagacious acumen many of which he told me (just two of us during meals at his Asero residence) he utilised well to his superior advantages at the World Court in delivering judgements. Unfortunately, he never waited for the ONLY (yes, only) ‘story of life’ (between us) which I longed to tell him on my return to Naija: for him to take along with him to Baba God.
“Hmmmm! Baba, may your soul rest in perfect peace! Ore mi atata (Sho sho ore mi atata – as he often called me).
“Life…! Baba, the Founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, is gone! Lobafinish o”!
