The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on Monday joined President Bola Tinubu and other Nigerians in mourning the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing his passing as a profound national loss and the end of an era in Nigeria’s political and moral history.

In a tribute issued on Monday, Fagbemi hailed Buhari as a man of “austere values, gentle strength, unyielding integrity, and a life defined by principled service.”

He said the late former president would be remembered for his unwavering dedication to God and country.

Fagbemi pointed out Buhari’s contributions to justice sector reforms during his presidency, noting that his administration recorded significant achievements in the modernisation of correctional services, policing, and anti-corruption systems, as well as reforms in electoral law and the devolution of powers under Nigeria’s federal structure.

He specifically credited Buhari with initiating the legal battle that led to the successful challenge of the controversial $11 billion Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) arbitral award.

The AGF noted that the effort was later carried forward by President Tinubu, who ensured that the country ultimately escaped what would have been a crippling financial penalty.

Fagbemi also disclosed Buhari’s role in Nigeria’s ongoing legal defence against another major claim involving the stalled Mambila Hydroelectric Power Project.

According to him, despite being in retirement, Buhari honoured a request by the government to testify before an international tribunal in Paris in January 2025, demonstrating, yet again, his commitment to the nation’s interest.

“Even in retirement, his unwavering sense of duty to the nation never diminished,” Fagbemi stated, adding that Buhari’s actions in his final months “reflected rare and steadfast conviction.”

The AGF extended condolences to President Tinubu, the former First Lady Aisha Buhari, and the family and associates of the late former leader, describing him as a “titan of principle and purpose.”

Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2015 to 2023, died on July 13, 2025.