Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the late former chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, as a self-made man who built a formidable profile as a jurist.
Obasanjo, in a condolence letter to the head of the Ayoola family, a copy of which was made available to journalists by his media aide Kehinde Akinyemi on Thursday, said the news of the death came to him in Congo Brazzaville as “a jarring shock.”
The former Nigerian leader, who appointed Ayoola as chairman of the ICPC during his administration, stated that throughout his entire career in public service, the late legal icon exhibited and demonstrated very good leadership qualities, wisdom, and wealth of experience.
He said, “Although I am deeply saddened to hear of his transition, I am comforted by the knowledge that he lived a full, productive, and useful life of service and devotion to his community, his state, and the nation as well as to humanity. Again, as mortals, we can never question the designs of the Almighty God.
“In a country like ours, which is abundantly endowed with stars and frontiersmen, Justice Ayoola was one genuine patriot who radiated dominantly within our national space and beyond.
“He was a distinguished Nigerian, an icon, a paragon of rightness and rectitude, whose life is devoted entirely to the service of his nation. He was a role model and a nationalist.
“He will be recorded by history as a Nigerian who embodies all the high points of our national achievements and is one of the very rare breeds of citizens who have combined total dedication, commitment, and excellence in all national and international endeavours they have engaged in.
“A self-made man, Justice Ayoola built for himself a most inspiring, even intimidating profile as a formidable jurist, a thorough-bred scholar, and an exemplary pacesetting administrator.
“In his lifetime, he held many challenging positions, most notably, as Judge of the High Court of Western Nigeria in 1976, and soon after a Judge of the High Court of Oyo State; Justice of the Court of Appeal of the Gambia (1980–1983); Chief Justice of the Gambia (1983–1992); Vice President of the World Judges Association in 1991; President of the Court of Appeals of Seychelles; Justice of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria (1992–1998); and Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (1998–2003), retiring in October 2003 at the mandatory age of 70.
“Just immediately after his retirement, he became the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria (2003–2005). Later in the year 2005, he was appointed by me as a democratically-elected President of Nigeria, to head the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), a body vested with the statutory responsibility of combating the malaise of corruption within the Nigerian nation.
“In all of these positions, Justice Ayoola earned the respect and confidence of Nigerians and non-Nigerians by dint of hard work, professional excellence, devotion to duty, and resourcefulness.
“Indeed, throughout his entire career in the public service, he exhibited and demonstrated very good leadership qualities, wisdom, and wealth of experience, as well as rare qualities of commitment and courage, always upholding the cherished traditions of the public service, and left behind a name that was thoroughly bathed in honour and dignity.
“This explains his conferment with the medal of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). His background and disposition were formidably humble, unassuming, and oozing with patent honesty and integrity. His name will live forever in the minds and hearts of those who experienced his warmth, generosity, and guidance.”
Ayoola died at the age of 90 on Tuesday.
