Kwara State Governor mourns Justice Ahmad Belgore
Tunde Akanbi, Ilorin
The Governor of Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has expressed sadness at the death of the great jurist and patriot, Justice Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore (retired).
Belgore, who was until his recent retirement the presiding justice of the Ilorin Division of the Court of Appeal, died on Tuesday night.
In his condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the Governor sent his heartfelt condolences to the entire Ilorin Emirate, whose illustrious son the jurist was, to the bar and the bench, and to the Belgores, who have lost a rare gem.
Justice Belgore, according to the statement, was a legal giant and a foremost community leader who offered his shoulder for many to lean on, the Governor said.
Governor AbdulRazaq asked Allaah to forgive Justice Belgore his shortcomings, admit him to al-jannah Firdaus, and give fortitude to the Belgores and everyone who mourns him.
The deceased retired at the Justice of Court of Appeal on 18th April 2023 on attainment of the age of 70.
‘Great loss to humanity’
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari , has described the demise of Justice Ahmad Olarewaju Belgore (rtd) as a big loss to the Ilorin Emirate and nation at large.
While reacting to the unfortunate incident as contained in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, the Emir said, “This is a great and colossal loss that has befell Ilorin Emirate and humanity at large.
“It is with shock that I received the news of the demise of Justice Ahmad Belgore. He was a complete gentleman, a thorough judicial officer who served the nation meritoriously in various capacities , nationally and internationally.
“He was one of the finest Justices that Ilorin Emirate has ever produced. He contributed in no small measures to the growth development of the judiciary and humanity in general.”
The Emir however, commiserates with the entire Belgore family, immediate and extended family members of the deceased, as well as the entire people of Ilorin Emirate and Nigerians in general, over the great loss.
Meanwhile, the deceased has been buried according to Islamic injunction at his Belgore family compound, Isale Koto, Ilorin.
Brief Profile
Born on 18th April 1953, he studied Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he bagged LL.B. (Hons.) with a specialization in Islamic law from 1975 to 1978, the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos (Barrister-At-Law (BL) 1978/79 Session) and was enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July, 1979.
Records revealed that the late jurist was appointed as a Notary Public in 1987 and later served in various capacities, such as Judge of the High Court of Justice, Kwara State, from August, 1990 to 2006, Resident High Court Judge, Offa Judicial Division of Kwara State August, 1994 to September, 1999 as well as Chairman, Special Tribunal Miscellaneous Offences in Abuja.
He was also on secondment to the Judiciary of the Republic of the Gambia and appointed as Justice of Appeal, Gambia Court of Appeal and was later elevated to become the acting Justice of the Supreme Court of the Gambia, a position he held up to December 2005.
The late Ahmad Belgore was appointed as Justice, Court of Appeal, Nigeria, on 27th April, 2006, and Sworn-in on the 8th June, 2006 and was posted to become the Presiding Justice, Sharia Panel of the Court of Appeal in 2008 and by 2015, he was appointed as Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal and posted to Ekiti Division.
Appointed Member, Body of Benchers of Nigeria, October, 2015. Appointed Life Bencher, February, 2021 and finally retired on 18th April 2023 at the age of 70.
