April 11, (THEWILL) – Justice Olarenwaju Belgore, a retired judge of the court of Appeal has died on Tuesday night.
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, confirmed the development in a condolence statement on Wednesday.
The Governor, commiserated with the deceased’s family, describing Justice Belgore as great jurist and patriot. He noted that the late Justice Belgore was a legal giant and a foremost community leader who offered his shoulder for many to lean on.
He prayed Allah to forgive Justice Belgore his shortcomings, admit him to al-jannah Firdaus and give the Belgores and everyone who mourns him the fortitude to bear the loss.
On his part, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, described Justice Belgore’s death as a big loss to the Ilorin Emirate and the nation at large.
In a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, the Emir said; “This is a great and colossal loss that has befell Ilorin Emirate and humanity at large.
“Inna ilaihi waina ilaehi raji’un, it is with shock that I received the news of the demise of Justice Ahmad Belgore.
“We was a complete gentleman, a thorough judicial, who served the nation meritoriously in various capacities and nationally and internationally.
“He was one of the finest Jutices that the Ilorin Emirate has ever produced. He contributed in no small measures to the growth development of the judiciary and humanity in general.”
The Emir commiserated with the entire Belgore family, immediate and extended family members of the deceased as well as the entire people of Ilorin Emirate and Nigerians in general over the great loss.
He prayed that Almighty Allah accept his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings and admit him into Al-janatul firdaos.
Justice Belgore retired from the Court of Appeal on April 18, 2023, on attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years. He was the Presiding Justice of the Ilorin division of the Court.
Born on April 18, 1953, Justice Belgore studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University, 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.
He was appointed as a Notary Public in 1987 and later served in various capacities as a judge of the High Court of Kwara State, from August 1990 to 2006, including as a Resident Judge of the Offa Judicial division of the High Court of Kwara State, between August 1994 and September, 1999.
Justice Belgore, who also served as the Chairman, Special Tribunal Miscellaneous Offences in Abuja, was later seconded to the Judiciary of the Republic of the Gambia, where he was appointed as Justice of Appeal, Gambia Court of Appeal and later elevated to the position of the Acting Justice of the Supreme Court of the Gambia, a position he held until December 2005.
He became a Justice of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria on April 27, 2006, sworn-in on the June 8, 2006 and was posted as the Presiding Justice, Sharia Panel of the Court of Appeal in 2008.
By 2015, he was appointed the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ekiti division. He became a member, Body of Benchers of Nigeria in October, 2015, and later became a Life Bencher in February 2021.
