Former Nigerian high commissioner to the UK Prince Bola Ajibola passes away at the age of 89

NIGERIA'S former high commissioner to the UK between 1999 and 2002 and the country's ex-justice minister Prince Bola Ajibola passed away quietly at the ripe old age of 89 last night eventually succumbing to failing health.

A highly renown jurist, Prince Ajibola had among other things served as a judge of the International Court of Justice, Hague in the Netherlands. He was also the founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, contributing to the educational development of his native Ogun State and the city of his birth.

His eldest child, Segun Ajibola, said: “With a very deep heart and gratitude to Almighty Allah, I wish to announce that our dad, Prince Bola Ajibola, departed this world over midnight. May Almighty Allah bless him with Aljanah Firdaus.”

Dr Kola Adesina, the head of the Department of Mass Communication at Crescent University, confirmed Prince Ajibola’s death too. He said: “It is true, he passed on in the night.”

Prince Ajibola who was also the president of the Nigerian Bar Association from 1984 to 1985, will be buried later today, Sunday, in Abeokuta, according to Islamic rites. He was also one of five commissioners on the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, organised through the Permanent Court of Arbitration.