Nation Mourns as AGF Fagbemi and CJN Kekere-Ekun Laud Buhari’s Legacy
Nigeria is in a state of profound mourning following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, with top legal figures, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, offering heartfelt tributes that underscored the monumental impact of his life and leadership.
AGF Fagbemi, in a personally signed condolence message, declared Buhari’s passing as “the end of an era in Nigeria’s political and moral history.” He remembered the former president with “profound respect for his unwavering dedication to God and country,” describing him as a man of “austere values, gentle strength, unyielding integrity, and a life defined by principled service in the quest for national transformation.”
Fagbemi highlighted Buhari’s significant contributions to the administration of justice and law reform during his presidency. He noted the enactment of landmark statutes, bold policy initiatives, and far-reaching institutional reforms, including the modernization of correctional services, policing, anti-money laundering frameworks, and electoral reform.
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The AGF also recalled Buhari’s crucial role in initiating the successful challenge to the $11 billion P&ID arbitral award, a “bold and strategic effort” that was “steadfastly carried forward by President Bola Tinubu, ultimately enabling our nation to avert a crippling financial burden.” He further shared a poignant memory of Buhari’s unwavering sense of duty even in retirement, recounting how the former president selflessly agreed to serve as a witness in the Mambila Hydroelectric Power Project case, traveling to Paris in January 2025 to testify for the nation.
“Nigeria has lost a titan of principle and purpose,” Fagbemi concluded, extending his heartfelt condolences to President Tinubu, former First Lady Mrs. Aisha Buhari, and all family, friends, and associates of the departed leader.
Echoing similar sentiments, CJN Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun stated that former President Buhari’s life was “defined by duty, discipline, and a remarkable consistency of purpose.” In her condolence message, she emphasized that Buhari’s “unwavering commitment to the Nigerian project, despite personal and political setbacks, stands as a lasting testament to his resilience and belief in the nation’s potential.”
The CJN urged all Nigerians to reflect on Buhari’s legacy, noting that “in a time of shifting values, his example reminds us of the importance of perseverance, principles, and public service.”
Justice Kekere-Ekun expressed sadness at the news but also gratitude for a life well-lived, commiserating with his immediate family, the government and people of Katsina State, and all Nigerians on the loss of a statesman who served his country both as a military Head of State and a democratically elected President.
The former Nigerian leader will be buried in his ancestral home in Daura, Katsina State, in line with Islamic injunctions. Both the AGF and CJN prayed for the eternal repose of his soul.
By PRNigeria
