Born: March 22, 1934, Owu, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Died: April 8, 2023, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Prince Bola Ajibola was a distinguished Nigerian jurist, diplomat, and educator whose life bridged royal heritage and a deep commitment to law, justice, and nation-building. A proud son of the Owu royal family in Abeokuta, he rose to become Nigeria’s Attorney General and later an influential figure in international law.
Early Life and Education
Born on March 22, 1934, into the Owu royal lineage of Abeokuta, Ajibola began his education at Owu Baptist Day School and Baptist Boys’ High School, both in Abeokuta. His passion for law took him to the United Kingdom, where he studied at Lincoln’s Inn and was called to the English Bar in 1962. This early exposure to British legal traditions shaped the jurisprudence that would define his long career.
National Service: Attorney General and Minister of Justice
Ajibola’s brilliance in legal practice and public service earned him appointment as Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria from 1985 to 1991, during the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.
In that role, he worked to strengthen the rule of law, introduce reforms in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, and modernize the nation’s legal institutions. His tenure emphasized human rights protections and judicial integrity at a time when Nigeria faced significant political challenges.
International Legal Career
Ajibola’s reputation for integrity and expertise soon extended beyond Nigeria’s borders. In 1991, he became a judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, where he served until 1994. At the ICJ he participated in landmark decisions that shaped the practice of international law and enhanced Nigeria’s global standing.
He later served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, helping to strengthen diplomatic ties, and also contributed to the Constitutional Court of the Commonwealth, where he worked on issues of international arbitration and constitutional interpretation.
Education and Faith-Based Initiatives
A devout Muslim and passionate advocate of education, Ajibola founded Crescent University, Abeokuta, in 2005, a private Islamic institution dedicated to academic excellence and moral leadership. He actively promoted interfaith understanding, working with both Muslim and Christian communities to foster peaceful coexistence.
Family and Personal Life
Prince Bola Ajibola was married and blessed with children, including Olusoji Ajibola, who continues to honor his father’s legacy in law and education. Despite his global engagements, Ajibola maintained close ties to his hometown of Abeokuta and to the Owu royal family throughout his life.
Honors and Legacy
For his decades of service, Ajibola received some of Nigeria’s highest national honors, including Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and later Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
His death on April 8, 2023, at the age of 89, was met with tributes from Nigerian leaders, legal practitioners, and international organizations. They hailed him as a man of integrity, faith, and unwavering dedication to justice, whose influence continues through the lawyers he mentored and the institutions he founded.
Sources
Premium Times: “Prince Bola Ajibola, former Nigerian Attorney-General, dies at 89,” April 9, 2023.
Prince Bola Ajibola’s life remains a testament to the power of law and education to shape society. From the courts of Abeokuta to the international bench at The Hague, his legacy endures as a model of principled leadership and lifelong public service.
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