The Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has described death as a mandatory call of nature that will be answered by all mortals at the appointed time.
She has therefore called on all Nigerians to play their respective roles with fear of God and be prepared to give accounts of their deeds in the end.
The CJN gave the admonition on Monday in Abuja at a special valedictory court session held in honour of late Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola.
The CJN said, “We are here today to honour our late brother, Hon. Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola who has profoundly touched our lives in diverse ways.
“Hon. Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola passed away peacefully in his sleep on 20th August, 2024 at the age of 90 years. We are not here to mourn but to celebrate the life and times of one of Nigeria’s most erudite and versatile jurists.
“Everything in life has its appointed time and season. There is a time to be born and there is a time to die. This is a mandatory call of nature that we all shall answer at the appointed time.
“A renowned English playwright and Poet of the Elizabethan era, William Shakespeare, said in his epic Stage Play, As You Like It, that, “All the world is a stage, and the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts…
“His Lordship came, played as many parts as he could and left indelible marks in the sands of time.
“Those who were privileged to have a close relationship with His Lordship would attest to his high level of discipline, principles and integrity. His disposition, character and enormous accomplishments stood him out among his peers.
“He was a man that had, at every turn of his life, refused to be dominated by situations, and he remained indomitable even till death. His life had evidently validated the belief that the future truly belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
“He convincingly demonstrated that we, as mortals, should always aim high, for even in failure, we may find ourselves among the stars. He stood staunchly by that philosophy till his peaceful transition at the fulfilled age of 90 years.
“His primary constituency, the Nigerian judiciary, which he served for over five decades, would always have fond memories of him as that eloquent jurist who upheld the banner of justice, equity and fair play.
“His judicial pronouncements have, deservedly, occupied vital pages of law books across Africa. He was a quintessential judicial icon who bestrode the judicial landscape with honour and great panache. He believed strongly that a judge must decide cases without fear or favour, affection or ill will.
“He was courteous to all, yet his politeness never invited disrespect. He always endeavoured to deploy plain, precise and pointed language in all his judgments. He chose his words with uncommon precision, while stating the facts precisely.
“The reasoning was always logical, following from one point to another, as he often considered rambling judgment as a bundle of confusion.
“Just like the Greek Philosopher, Socrates, Hon. Justice Ayoola believed strongly that a good Judge must have the capacity to hear courteously, answer wisely, consider soberly and decide impartially.
“He was such a highly cerebral judicial colossus that had offered the best of his intellect to the advancement of the legal profession through his several years of discerning adjudications and unprecedented prowess.
“He has been variously described by his close associates as a man of robust intellect and epitome of judicial activism that was adequately aided by wisdom and prudence. In fact, majority of those who had close acquaintance with him were quick to cast him in the mould of the great Lord Denning of the English Bench.
“This is apparently as a result of his bravery, seamless deployment of language and alluring innovativeness in all his judgments and rulings.”
Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola was born on 27th October, 1933, in Ilesha, Osun State.
He was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on 4th September, 1959, the same year he started his private legal practice in Ibadan.
Justice Ayoola was elevated to the Bench of the Court of Appeal on 8th July, 1992. Within a period of six years, he had another well-deserved elevation to the Supreme Court, precisely on 25th November, 1998.
He was subsequently appointed Chief Justice of The Gambia in January, 1983. As he concluded his assignment in The Gambia, he was called to serve on the Seychelles Court of Appeal in January, 1992, eventually becoming the President of the Court in January, 1999.
In 2000, few years to his retirement, he chaired the Working Committee on Law Revision of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
The late Justice was appointed as Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in September 2005.
He also served as the Chairman of Judges´ Performance Evaluation Committee and Member, Judges Appointment Interview Committee of the National Judicial Council till 2023.
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