Some Lagos-based lawyers on Wednesday described the death of the former Appeal Court Justice, Ahmad Belgore, as a huge loss to his family, the bench and the legal profession, at large.
The lawyers disclosed this in separate interviews with our correspondent while reacting to the death of Belgore, the Retired Court of Appeal Justice.
The news of Belgore’s demise was announced on Tuesday night by the NBA Ilorin branch.
Belgore retired as a Justice of the appellate court on April 18, 2023, on attaining the retirement age of 70.
While reacting to his death, Mr. Julius Ayoola, the Principal Partner Ayoola Julius and Co. Lagos, described his death as a huge loss.
Ayoola said that Belgore was a jurist per excellence and would greatly be missed by the legal profession and the people Gambia.
He said that Belgore was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Gambia and rose from Gambia’s Court of Appeal with sterling qualities without blemish.
“For some of us, Belgore ranked with the likes of Niki Tobi and Karibi Whyte, for his deep jurisprudence when espousing the law.
“We are more comforted with the fact that he was able to observe his last fasting on earth.
“We pray that the Almighty Allah will give his family and Nigeria the fortitude to bear the loss,” Ayoola said.
Mr. Chibuikem Opara, a partner at Justification Chambers, Ikeja, said the late jurist possessed a thorough personality.
“I never came across him as a lawyer but as a Justice of the Court of Appeal, he possessed a thorough personality.
“Hon. Justice Belgore distinguished himself in the Court of Appeal bench as can be attested by his numerous published decisions,” Opara said.
He added that the death of the jurist was a huge loss to his family, the bench and the legal profession at large.
Opara said that though Belgore retired in 2023, there was the belief that he still had a lot to offer to the bench and the judiciary.
He prayed that the soul of Belgore would find favour with his maker.
Mr. Ademola Owolabi, Principal Partner Owolabi Chambers, Lagos, noted that Belgore was a bold and erudite judge with panache for justice.
“His death during the Ramadan festival is a pointer to his pious mien,” he said.
Owolabi said the legal profession had lost an erudite judge.
The lawyer prayed for the repose of Belgore’s soul.
The late Belgore was born on April 18, 1953.
He studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he bagged a degree in Law with specialisation in Islamic Law.
He finished from the Nigerian Law School Lagos and was enrolled as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
