A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde has described the death of former retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola as the end of the golden era in the Nigeria’s judiciary and the legal profession.
Ayorinde is a statement issued on Friday tagged ‘One of the golden ones has gone” said the late Justice Ayoola was a courageous, and upright judge.
He said “I knew Justice Ayoola as a child when he was one of the leading lawyers in Nigeria with his illustrious brother Justice Olu Ayoola. Both were based in Ibadan arguably the home of the top lawyers in Nigeria in that golden era between 1950 and 1980.
“He was a judge of the High Court of the Old Oyo State which include the present Osun State, a bench which had formidable and courageous Judges including Emmanuel Fakayode, Agbaje Williams, Akin Apara, Babalakin, Timothy Adebayo Ayorinde (my late father)”
“A jurist of international repute, his legal career spanned over five decades, encompassing private practice, and notable tenures on the Bench both in Nigeria and abroad.
“His exceptional integrity, brilliant legal analysis, incisive judgments, and steadfast commitment to justice distinguished him as a towering figure in the legal profession”.
“On behalf of my family, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family”.
Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola (JSC, rtd), a distinguished retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has passed away at the age of 90 years.
Justice Ayoola was celebrated for his exceptional legal acumen, unwavering integrity, and dedication to justice.
Throughout his distinguished career, he served at various judicial levels, ultimately reaching the Supreme Court of Nigeria. His tenure was marked by landmark judgements significantly influencing Nigerian law and jurisprudence.
