As the world continues to mourn the demise of a legal luminary and former judge at the International Court of Justice, Prince Bolasodun Abdul-Jabar Ajibola, Media mogul, Chief Dele Momodu has reflected on one of the glorious moments of the late legal icon’s life.
Prince Ajibola, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Attorney General/Minister of Justice and former judge at the International Court of Justice, died in the early hours of Sunday and has since been buried according to Islamic rite.
He died at the age of 89 and his death has since attracted sympathies from across the world with many extolling his humanist virtues.
Reflecting on one of the many endearing moments of his life and times, Dele Momodu recalled how Prince Ajibola stole the show with his inspiring citation in 1996, 27 years ago, when the former Nigerian Ambassador was to be conferred with a Doctorate Degree in Law by the prestigious Buckingham University, UK.
In an Instagram post on Sunday where he mourned the demise of the reputable jurist, Momodu wrote: “Humans like Judge Bolasodun Adesumbo Ajibola are rarely made these days… I was present on Saturday, February 24, 1996, at Buckingham University, when this phenomenal legal luminary, an Egba Prince and diplomat extraordinaire from Nigeria, was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa).
“The roof of Buckingham University almost came down from the thunderous applause that greeted the citation of His Excellency Bola Ajibola, which was read by another rare specie from Nigeria, Dr Olufemi Elias.
“Former British Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher, who was obviously in awe of Ajibola’s extraordinary exploits in the legal profession, kept nodding in appreciation.
“On the same occasion, Ajibola’s son, Akinmade, bagged a Second class (Upper Division) in Law. His two other Brothers, Segun (now a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN) and Ademola, and their sister, Mrs Modupe Ajibola-Afikuyomi, all read Law at the same University…”
“I later accompanied his son-in-law, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, to visit him at The Hague, where he distinguished himself as a Judge at The International Court of Justice. We discovered his other talent as a culinary enthusiast when he personally cooked our meals. Prince Bola Ajibola passed on this morning to the great beyond.”
“May Allah welcome his brilliant soul and forgive his shortcomings,” he concluded.
