A former International Court of Justice judge in Hague, Netherlands, Prince Bola Ajibola has died at 89, early Sunday morning, in his hometown in Abeokuta, Ogun state from an illness associated with old age.
A statement released by the eldest son of the deceased, Segun Ajibola read: ‘With very deep heart and gratitude to Almighty Allah, our dad, Prince Bola Ajibola departed this world over the midnight. May Almighty Allah bless him with Aljanah Firdaus .’
The late Justice served as president of the Nigerian Bar Association between 1984 and 1985. He was also the founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta.
He also served as the High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2002.
He became the Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Nigeria between 1985 and 1991 and in the international scene, also served as a judge of the international Court of Justice from 1991 to 1994.
When the Permanent Court of Arbitration set up the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, Prince Bola Ajibola was among the five commissioners that served in it.
After the Jos riots in 2008, he became the chairman of the panel that was set up by the Plateau State government to carry out investigations concerning it.
He was greatly respected for establishing an Islamic and co-educational institution named Crescent University in 2005.
The late Prince Bola Ajibola was a prince from Owu, a town situated very close to Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun state. He was born into the royal family of Oba Abdul-Salam Ajibola Gbadela 11 on March 22, 1934.
His education started with Owu Baptist Day School and Baptist Boys High School between 1942 and 1955 in Abeokuta. He bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Law at the Holborn College of Law, University of London, between 1959 and 1962.
He was called to the English Bar at the Lincoln’s Inn in 1962, but however, returned to Nigeria to practice.
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his condolences to the family of the late Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN). Speaking, through a statement signed by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, he stated that the successful jurist used his God- given knowledge, talent and intellect to preach justice, equity and fairness in all his undertakings both in the country and diaspora.
He also lauded him for rising to the peak of his career especially as he showed his brilliance in the legal practice when he served meritoriously at the International Court of Justice at the Hague between 1991 and 1994.
President Buhari further stated that Ajibola made great contributions to the development of the Nigerian legal system during his time as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice during the critical period in the nation’s history. He also extended his condolences to the Ogun State government and the her citizenry.
His remains were interred, after the Janazah prayer led by the Chief Imam of Egbaland Sheik Sa’dallah Bamgbola, at the sprawling premises of the Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA) which he established decades ago on Abiola Way Area, Monday, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, amidst glowing tributes.
