Bola Ajibola was a Nigerian lawyer, judge, and diplomat who served as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria. He was also a judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) from 1991 to 1994. Ajibola was born on March 22, 1934, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. He was the second of eight children. Continue reading my post about the Prominent Lawyer, Bola Ajibola Biography to know more about him.
Wiki Profile:
| Born | March 22, 1934 |
|---|---|
| Died | 8 April 2023 (aged 89) |
| Spouse | Olufunmilayo Janet Abeni Ajibola |
| Parent | Oba Abdulsalam Ajibola Gbadela II (Father) |
| Birthplace | Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria |
| Education | LLB from the University of London |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Judge, Diplomat |
| Notable Positions | Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria, Judge at the International Court of Justice, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Human Rights in Cambodia, Chairman of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 1986, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) in 2002 |
Early Life and Education:
Bola Ajibola Biography is not complete without writing about his Early Life and most importantly, his Education.
Ajibola attended Baptist Boys’ High School in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He then went on to study law at the University of London, where he earned his LLB in 1962. He was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn in London in 1963.
Bola Ajibola Career:
After returning to Nigeria, Ajibola worked as a lawyer in private practice for several years. In 1978, he was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Nigeria. He was later elevated to the Court of Appeal in 1985.
In 1989, Ajibola was appointed as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria. He served in this position until 1991 when he was elected to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands. He served as a judge at the ICJ until 1994.
After leaving the ICJ, Ajibola continued to practice law and serve as a diplomat. He served as the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Human Rights in Cambodia from 1994 to 1995. He was also appointed as the African Union’s Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Africa in 1997.
Ajibola was a member of several professional organizations, including the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
Posts & Membership of Professional Associations:
- President, Nigerian Bar Association (1984-1985)
- President, The World Association of Judges
- Chairman, Disciplinary Committee of the Bar and General Council of the Bar
- Chairman, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria
- Member, Advisory Judicial Committee
- Member, African Bar Association
- IBA
- Association of World Lawyers
- Commonwealth Law Association
- Vice President, Institute of International Business Law and Practice, Paris
- Vice-Chairman, International Court of Justice, The Hague (1991-1994)
- President, World Bank Administrative Tribunal
- Judge, Constitution Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1994-2002)
- Member, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)
- Member, Permanent Court of Arbitration
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London
- Chairman, Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission
- Arbitrator/Commissioner, Eritrea/Ethiopia Boundary Commission
From 1970 to 1990, Bola Ajibola edited Nigeria’s Treaties in Effect, and from 1961 to 1990, he edited All-Nigeria Law Reports. He has written numerous books, such as “Heavens in Vision,” as well as numerous papers and essays on a range of legal topics.
Bola Ajibola Achievements:
I can’t write about Bola Ajibola Biography and not mention his notable achievements in and outside of Nigeria. Ajibola made major contributions to the legal community and human rights throughout his career. In 1998, he played a key role in the creation of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. From 2001 to 2005, he also presided over the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Ajibola received a number of distinctions and prizes for his contributions to the legal community. Both the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) and the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) were awarded in 2002 and 1986, respectively.
Bola Ajibola Personal Life:
Olufunmilayo Janet Abeni Ajibola, his wife, passed away on June 8th, 2016 in London. On April 8, 2023, Bola passed away at the age of 89.
Bola Ajibola Networth:
I don’t have any reliable information available regarding Bola Ajibola’s net worth as at the time of writing this post. As a judge, lawyer, and diplomat, Ajibola was known for his public service and contributions to the legal profession and human rights, rather than for accumulating wealth.
Conclusion:
Bola Ajibola was a prominent Nigerian lawyer, judge, and diplomat who made significant contributions to the legal profession and human rights. He served as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria and as a judge at the International Court of Justice. Ajibola was also instrumental in the establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and served as the Chairman of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He was a true icon of the legal profession and will be remembered for his significant contributions.
