Belgore Now 73
Former Justice of the Supreme Court, Alfa Modibo Belgore, will today mark his 73rd birthday. The article below was published in 2009 when the prominent alumnus was 72.
Belgore at 72
Daily Independent (Lagos)
17 January 2009
A jurist, Belgore was born on January 17, 1937. He hails from Ilorin in Kwara State.
He had his primary education at Okesuna Elementary School, Ilorin, Kwara State between 1944 and 1948. He went on from there to Middle School, Ilorin, Kwara State from 1949 to 1951 and later to Ilesha Grammar School, Ilesha between 1952 and 1956 for his secondary education. In pursuit of higher education, he equally attended Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, London, University of London (1960-1963).
He started his career as a Magistrate in Northern Nigeria. He was there between 1964 and 1973.
In the course of his career, he was chairman of the tribunal that investigated procurement of inputs, Ministry of Agriculture in 1971. He was also chairman, Investigation of Contracts Award in Benue and Plateau states (1970-1975); chairman, tribunal which looked into complaints of Proprietors on the take over of Voluntary Agency Schools, North Central State (1974).
In 1971 he became member and vice president of Commonwealth Magistrate Association, and chairman, Body of Benchers (1997-1998), he has since been a life member.
He is member, Legal Practioners Priviledges Committee and vice chairman, National Judicial Council; Chief Registrar, North Central State, (1973-1974); Judge of the High Courts of Benue-Plateau State, Kwara State, Kaduna State, North-Western State, Kano State, North-Eastern State, Plateau State (1974-1977); Chief Judge, Plateau State (1977-1979); Justice, Court of Appeal (1979-1986); chairman, Commission of Inquiry, University of Ife Students' Crises (1981); Judicial Inquiry, Crisis of Petroleum Shortage in Nigeria (1992); Technical Committee on Law, Justice and Development in Africa; Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies; National Archives; Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.
He was appointed as Justice, Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1986. He was president, Nigerian Magistrate's Association (1970-1975); member, Commonwealth Judges' Association; council member, Commonwealth Magistrates' Association (1972-1975); also member, Board of Governor, National Judicial Institute.
In 1961, he won a prize for best performance, in criminal law and was also honoured with the national award of Commander of the Order Niger (CON) in 2001. Aside his law profession, Belgore enjoys reading, learning and speaking different languages, gardening and cattle rearing.
Adieu Professor Abiola Ojo
It is now a year ago that Professor Abiola Ojo parted from us. We are publishing this article written in 2009 to pay homage to the prof.
Jide Osuntokun
The Nation
January 29, 2009
A day after the Feast of Epiphany that is January 7, 2009, Professor Abiola Ojo, foremost constitutional lawyer, erudite author, law teacher, Professor of Professors, a good man, a man with simple taste even though not a poor man, a good friend of many and my buddy passed on to immortality. I received a Christmas text message from him 12 days before this sad event and I was naturally shocked when I heard about Abiola’s demise. What we, his friends, would remember forever is his amiable character. His routine was always predictable. He never missed a day in the University of Lagos to fellowship with his friends even after retirement.
As a young man, he went to Ilesha Grammar School, apparently because his father who was resident in Lagos wanted him immersed in the Ijesha culture of which Biola was forever proud. After Ilesha Grammar School he went to the University of London to read law. He did this thoroughly, earning the LLB, LLM and PhD degrees of the University of London with specialisation in Constitutional Law. He taught Law in the University of Lagos for more than 35 years, rising to the enviable status of Professor of Law.
Abiola’s law background opened up opportunities in business to him. He had several business interests and when there was some kind of problem in one of these businesses, he quietly withdrew active participation in it, especially when a hired assassin tried to terminate his life. He was shot but he survived it.
One remarkable thing about Biola was that he carried his friends along and made them to show interest in opportunities that were available outside the Ivory tower. He was what the Yoruba will call Afenifere – someone who loves others. He was a damn good teacher and he spent virtually his entire adult life in the university teaching. Most of his friends were those he cultivated in the university or in business. He has friends across Nigeria and he remained close to those with whom he studied in England. This made him to feel at home everywhere in Nigeria, particularly in the North.
He loved Ilesha, his hometown, immensely and he gave himself the funny title of Ounni (He is the one) of Ijeshaland. This was to show the funny side of Biola. He was a good family man and loved his children and doted on the only girl in the family, Oyinda. He loved his wife, Bisi, and deferred to her virtually in all things. She was not only a wife, but a mother confessor but perhaps most importantly the most trusted adviser. Bisi was Biola’s Guardian Angel. He was always eager to let his friends know that the last decision lies with his wife. Biola is the only other Nigerian I know except my brother Kayode, who turned down ministerial appointment offer. In the case of Biola it was his wife’s advice that was decisive.
Biola will be greatly missed in Lagos and Nigeria generally but most especially in Ilesha, his hometown, which he loved very dearly. He was a typical Ijesha man who enjoys the usual Ijesha "curses" as a form of endearment!
He was a generous man and a good Christian as well and was very active in All Saints Church Yaba. There is no doubt that his death would create a gap in our lives. He lived well, and his life touched the lives of very many people. He had many friends and whenever there was a misunderstanding he made peace quickly. He kept no malice and if he disagreed with you he always told you to your face.
Biola’s life was like an open book. He hardly kept any secret and he did everything to better the lives of those of his close friends. None of his close associates can deny not benefiting from his world wise advice. Even though a typical Ijesha man, he was well traveled, thereby becoming a renaissance man and man of good manners and excellent sartorial taste. He mentored many young men in the academia.
Good academics do not die. They live on in their books and as long as constitutional law is a subject of enquiry in Nigeria, Biola’s name will always be remembered. He will always live on in his children and in the hearts of those who love him. Biola’s demise once more shows the mortality of all of us and this is why Psalm 90:12 says "Teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."
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