The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has eulogised the late Prince Bola Ajibola, former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), for his selfless service to the country. The association praised Ajibola for refusing a salary during his tenure as AGF, urging that the funds be redirected to the Federal Government, the NBA, and charitable or humanitarian organisations.
Prince Bola Ajibola served as AGF and Minister of Justice from 1985 to 1991. The NBA’s National President, Yakubu Maikyau, conveyed his condolences to Ajibola’s family in a message following the lawyer’s death on Sunday, 9 April 2023, at the age of 89. Maikyau also extended sympathy to the Owu Kingdom, the management, staff and students of Crescent University, Abeokuta, the government and people of Ogun State, as well as friends, mentees and associates of the late Prince, who had been NBA President from 1984 to 1985.
The letter, signed by NBA National Publicity Secretary Akorede Habeeb Lawal, highlighted Ajibola’s distinguished career. After his NBA presidency, he became Nigeria’s Attorney‑General/Minister of Justice in 1985, later serving on the International Court of Justice in The Hague. He was a Judge Ad Hoc of the World Court from 1994 to 2002, a Judge of the Constitutional Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2002. He also chaired the Body of Benchers and the Council of Legal Education.
An elder statesman and international icon, Ajibola chaired the Nigerian delegation to the Nigerian‑Cameroon Mixed Commission on the Bakassi Peninsula. He served as Vice President and then President of the World Bank Administrative Tribunal (1994‑2005), President of the World Association of Jurists and Arbitrators, and participated in the Ethiopia‑Eritrea Boundary Dispute Commission.
A passionate advocate for education, Ajibola founded the Islamic Mission for Africa in 1996, which later evolved into Crescent University in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The NBA President prayed for the repose of Ajibola’s soul, asked God to forgive him, and sought strength for his family and friends to bear this profound loss.
Comments are closed for this story.