A retired Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA), Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore, is dead.
The news of Belgore’s demise was announced on Tuesday night by the chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch, Kwara State, Kamaldeen Gambari, Esq.
“Information reaching me now indicates that Hon. Justice Ahmad Olarewaju Belgore, PCJA (Rtd) is dead. May Allah forgive his shortcomings,” Gambari said in a short message posted on social media platforms.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Kwara state governor, expressed his condolences over Belgore’s death.
“Belgore, who was until his recent retirement the presiding justice of the Ilorin division of the court of appeal, died on Tuesday night,” the statement reads.
“The governor sends his heartfelt condolences to the entire Ilorin Emirate, the bar and the bench, and to the Belgores, who have lost a rare gem.
“Justice Belgore was a legal giant and a foremost community leader who offered his shoulder for many to lean on.”
In another statement, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the Emir of Ilorin and chairman of the Kwara state traditional rulers council, described the death of Belgore as a big loss to the Ilorin Emirate and the nation at large.
ABOUT BELGORE
Born on April 18, 1953, Belgore studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he bagged LL.B (Hons.) with Specialisation 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 Miscellaneous Offences Tribunal 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 that acting Justice of the Supreme Court of the Gambia, a position he held up to December 2005.
Late Ahmad Belgore was appointed as Justice, Court of Appeal, Nigeria on April 27, 2006 and sworn-in on June 8, 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 April 18, 2023 at the age of 70.
