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Kogi CJ dies of suspected COVID-19 complications

By Bridget Chiedu Onochie (Abuja) Ibrahim Obansa (Lokoja)
29 June 2020   |   2:58 am
Chief Judge of Kogi State, Nasir Ajanah, has died of suspected coronavirus disease (COVID-19) complications, shortly after he was moved from Lokoja to an isolation centre in Gwagwalada

Governor, SDP boss mourn

Chief Judge of Kogi State, Nasir Ajanah, has died of suspected coronavirus disease (COVID-19) complications, shortly after he was moved from Lokoja to an isolation centre in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello described his death as a massive blow to government and people of the state.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, quoted the governor, in a statement, as saying that the late CJ would be sorely missed for his tenacity of purpose and outstanding commitment to the sanctity of the temple of justice.

“He was a colossus in the noble profession of law,” he added.

The acclaimed “accomplished judge”, who died at the age of 64, was first appointed a high court judge by the Kwara State Government in 1990 and later transferred to Kogi when the state was created in 1991.

As a high court judge, Ajanah served in several jurisdictions across the state, including Ankpa (1991 to 1993), Isanlu (1994 to 1996) and Okene (1996 to 1999) before moving to Lokoja in 1999 where he served until his death.

He was buried in Abuja yesterday according to Islamic rites.

Kogi chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Mouktar Atimah, condoled with the state government and the entire Ajanah family over the incident.

He described CJ’s death as shocking, coming when his services were most needed.

According to him, the late CJ will be remembered for his calmness, forthrightness and selfless service to the state and his community.

He prayed to God to grant the soul of the late CJ eternal rest and the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Ajanah’s death came barely one week after that of the former President of Kogi State Customary Court of Appeal, Shaibu Atadoga.

The late CJ started his education at the Local Authority (Central) Primary School Okene between 1962 and 1968. He proceeded to the Federal Government College, Keffi, in 1969 and was admitted by the same college for his Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1974.

He studied Law at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School. He was called to the Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

His working career started with Kwara State Ministry of Justice where he served as State Counsel between 1982 and 1984. He later set up Nasiru Ajanah & Co. in Okene between 1985 and 1989 before he was appointed as a Judge of Kwara State High Court in 1990.

Ajanah served as Chairman, Kabba Disturbance Tribunal in Kogi State (1994); Chairman, Election Petition Tribunal in Adamawa State (1998); member of Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (1999 to 2006); Chairman, Panel on Murtala Muhammed International Airport Fire Incident (2000); Chairman, Election Petition Tribunal in Akwa Ibom State (2007); and Chairman, Election Tribunal Petition in Rivers State (2008).

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