Hon. Justice A. O. Ajileye

Within twenty-four hours of his retirement from the service of Kogi State Judiciary, no fewer than three universities have offered Hon. Justice Alaba Ajileye, PhD, a professorial chair in their institutions.

The beckons came at the launch of the latest book of the erudite retired Judge in Abuja Friday.

The three universities include: Federal University Lokoja, Baze University Abuja and the University of Jos.

Speaking at the launch of the book tittled “In the Interest of Justice, (Excellence in Judgement Writing), the Vice Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja, Prof Yemi Akinwumi, said his university is starting the Faculty of Law immediately, and that the knowledge and experience of Justice Ajileye will be valuable asset if he can accept to be one of the pioneer professors of that faculty.

Almost immediately, the Dean, Faculty of Law, Baze University, Prof Agbo Madaki, who represented the Vice Chancellor of the university, came up, as if to tell Akinwumi to perish the idea of snatching Justice Ajileye, and announced to the eminent personalities at the book launch, that, Baze University, Abuja, has prepared the employment letter of the learned jurist as a visiting professor with very attractive emolument. He also publicly announced that the President of the African Bar Association has requested him to inform Justice Ajileye, that he is one of the resource persons already scheduled to attend the all-expenses-paid conference of the African Bar Association at Johannesburg, South Africa later this year.

To tell the crowd that, they have not heard enough, Prof Joash Amupitan, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, also came with the message, on the decision of his university to have Justice Ajileye in the rank of the professors of the university.

Justice Ajileye has suddenly become the toast of the Nigerian universities. It is expected that more univerisities would approach Justice Ajileye for more offers.

All these offers are coming in the midst of pressure on the relevant authorities including President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Judicial Council by the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, to consider Ajileye for appointment to the Court of Appeal for a higher responsibility.

“At the Public Lecture organised by the Rue of Law Development Foundation, in Abuja, I spoke in my capacity as the President of Nigeria Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau, to request for his elevation to the Court of Appeal. I mentioned how I first met Justice Ajileye at a training program and how he demonstrated exceptional humility, simplicity and brilliance. We at the Bar are determined to pursue this cause to a conclusive end even in his retirement. This time around, we are not demanding for his elevation but appointment.” the president of the Bar said.

Citing Section 238 of the Constitution, the Number One man of the Nigerian Bar stated that the Constitution of Nigeria did not bar a retired judge from appointment to the Court of Appeal and so “it is not too late for the president to act to prevent the country from losing the wealth of knowledge and experience of Justice Ajileye, widely recognised as Nigeria’s leading authority on electronic evidence.”

He argued that since the retirement age on the higher bench is 70 years, Justice Ajileye, if so appointed, would have five more meritorious years of service to offer the country, especially at this critical period in the history of the country when elections are being transmitted electronically and adjudications on election matters in this novel field cannot but be expected.

Describing Justice Ajileye as a cerebral and profound judge, Maikyau said the judicial pronouncements of the retired judge, if made on the higher bench, will advance the jurisprudence of Nigeria globally.

In his response, Hon. Justice Ajileye, appreciated all the men for believing in him and for the offers from the various universities, as he revealed his absolute dependence on God, to further guide him, in the next phase of his life.

Nevertheless, he stated that having written so many judgments and rulings, which to him are enough in a lifetime, the opportunity to groom and mentor upcoming younger generation of lawyers is very attractive to him.