President Bola Tinubu has joined other great Nigerians to condole with the Ayoola family over the passing of Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola, a retired Supreme Court Justice and former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Ayoola’s death was announced in a statement on Wednesday by the Chairman of the ICPC, Musa Aliyu.
Ayoola, who was the second ICPC chairman, was said to have died on Tuesday at the age of 91.
He succeeded Mustapha Akanbi as the Commission’s Chairman and served between 2005 and 2010.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu extolled Justice Ayoola’s dedication to national service, renowned integrity, and courage in upholding justice.
He commiserated with the deceased’s associates and the judicial society, praising Justice Ayoola’s rare principles, discipline, brilliance, and impeccable jurisprudential knowledge.
The President prayed for the repose of Justice Ayoola’s soul and solace for his family, ensuring that his legacy will be remembered for generations to come.
“President Bola Tinubu condoles with the Ayoola family of Ilesha, Osun State, over the passing of Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola, CON.
“The late Ayoola was a retired justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
“Justice Ayoola had an illustrious career as a lawyer and judicial officer, serving as Justice of the Court of Appeal of the Gambia from 1980 to 1983; Chief Justice of the Gambia from 1983 to 1992; President of the Court of Appeals of Seychelles, and Justice of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria from 1992 to 1998.
“President Tinubu mourns the late jurist, yet extols his dedication to the service of the nation, his renowned integrity, and courage to act in the interest of justice.
“The President also commiserates with the associates of the deceased and members of the Nigerian judicial society over the loss.
“President Tinubu states that Justice Ayoola will always be remembered for his rare principles, discipline, brilliance, and impeccable jurisprudential knowledge.
“The President prays for the repose of the soul of the elder statesman and solace to his family,” the statement reads.
Ayoola served Nigeria in various capacities. He was appointed as a high court judge in 1976 and rose through the ranks to the Supreme Court.
Having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70; he retired as a justice of the nation’s apex court in 2003.
Born on October 27, 1933, in Ilesha, Osun State, Ayoola attended Temidire Model School from 1939 to 1943 for his primary education and Ilesha Grammar School from 1944 to 1950 for his secondary education.
The late jurist obtained a law degree in 1957.
He studied at several institutions, including the University of London and Oxford University London.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) appointed Ayoola as a judge of the appeals chamber of the special court for Sierra Leone.
The court was set up to try those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Sierra Leone civil war. He was president of the court from 2004 to 2005.
Ayoola was awarded the Nigerian National Honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) for his meritorious service to Nigeria and humanity in 2003.
