Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, the former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, describing him as a man of impeccable honor and dignity.
Justice Ayoola, who was highly respected in Nigeria’s judicial circles, passed away at the age of 90 on Tuesday.
In a condolence letter addressed to the Ayoola family, and released to the media by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President revealed that the news of Ayoola’s death reached him while he was in Congo Brazzaville, leaving him in profound shock.
Justice Ayoola was appointed as ICPC Chairman during Obasanjo’s administration, and the former President lauded him for his exemplary leadership, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to public service throughout his career.
“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,” Obasanjo wrote.
Obasanjo further extolled Ayoola as a true patriot who left an indelible mark on Nigeria and beyond, noting that, “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.”
Reflecting on Ayoola’s extensive career, Obasanjo highlighted his numerous prestigious roles, including serving as a Judge of the High Court of Western Nigeria in 1976, Chief Justice of the Gambia from 1983 to 1992, and Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria until his retirement in 2003.
Obasanjo also recalled Justice Ayoola’s contributions as Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria, and later as the head of the ICPC, where he gained widespread respect for his hard work, professional excellence, and unwavering integrity.
“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,” Obasanjo remarked.
He concluded by noting that Justice Ayoola’s legacy will endure, symbolizing the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and public service, further cemented by his conferment with the Commander of the Order of the Niger.
