President Muhammadu Buhari has paid tribute to the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi, describing him as a man whose greatest asset in life was his enviable integrity and incorruptibility.
The President disclosed this in a condolence message by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Sunday.
Buhari believed that late Akanbi would be remembered for his enormous contributions in bringing credibility and respectability to the country’s judiciary.
He said: “Being respected by the people for your honesty and patriotism is the best legacy a man can leave behind.’’
He noted that the death of the pioneer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was a colossal loss not only to the Nigerian judiciary, but the country as a whole.
“In a country where corruption is perceived as fashionable, Akanbi stood out as a remarkable man who put personal integrity and selflessness before the desire for money outside his legitimate income,’’ the President further stated.
He affirmed that Akanbi’s greatest achievement was leaving the public service with his integrity intact and untainted.
Buhari noted that throughout his distinguished career in the judiciary and public service, Akambi resisted the defeatist mindset that ‘if you can’t beat them, join them.”
“Great men like Akanbi didn’t believe in joining evil because it was popular or supported by the majority,” the President added.
Buhari extended heartfelt condolences to Akanbi’s family, the government and people of Kwara and the entire Ilorin Emirate.
The President prayed that almighty Allah would forgive “the gentle soul of the deceased and reward his remarkable good deeds with Aljanna (paradise).’’
Akanbi, who died at the age of 86, was laid to rest according to Islamic rites on Sunday in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Born on September 11, 1932, in Accra, Ghana, Akanbi was appointed the ICPC chairman by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000 and served until 2005.
He obtained a scholarship to study law at the Institute of Administration, now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He then went for further legal studies in the United Kingdom.
He was called to the English Bar in 1963, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in January 1964. He joined the Ministry of Justice and became a Senior State Counsel in 1968.
In 1969, he set up a private practice in Kano. In 1974, he was appointed a judge of the Federal Revenue Court, and in January 1977, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal Bench.
In 1992, he was made President of the Court of Appeal, a position he held until retiring in 1999.
Also, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, expressed grief over the death.
Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, said Akanbi’s death was a personal loss.
He described the late Akanbi as an indefatigable, honest and principled jurist, who upheld the ethics of the judicial process till he breathed his last.
“I am sad that Baba (Akanbi) has left us. He was fearless, courageous and spoke truth to power during his lifetime.
“He was like a father to me. His death is a personal loss. Kwara State will miss him. Nigeria will miss him,” he said.
He stated that the deceased would be remembered for his unquenchable zeal to restore the principles of transparency and accountability in the country through his fight against corruption.
Saraki noted that “he was an anti-corruption Czar who fought the malaise both when he was in and out of office.
“He never gave up. His untiring zeal to stamp out corruption from all facet of our national life never dimmed.
“He lived what he preached and you could see there was no pretence about him at all.
“He was an incorruptible jurist whose judgements could hardly be faulted while on the bench.
“During his stint as Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), he fought corruption with uncommon passion and courage.
“After leaving office as the ICPC boss, he again joined the board of the Justice and Law Enforcement Reformation Organisation – a non-profit organisation – to continue his anti-corruption crusade.
“He later established the Mustapha Akanbi Foundation in furtherance of his quest to strengthen the culture of transparency, accountability and good governance in the country,” he said.
Saraki further described Akanbi as a true son of Kwara State whose many contributions to the development of his immediate community, state and the country in general, would remain indelible.
The Senate President commiserated with the immediate family, the government and people of Kwara State.
He urged them to emulate the virtues and values of integrity, selfless service and unparalleled patriotism of the late jurist.
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, said Akanbi’s experience as a judge with a clean record had been quite useful to the country’s fight against corruption.
Tinubu, in a condolence letter, signed by his Media Officer, Mr Tunde Rahman, on Sunday in Lagos, described late Akanbi as an incorruptible judge, who was committed to the rule of law and social justice.
He said that It was painful that his transition came at a time when Buhari had put the fight against corruption at the front burner.
”The nation is diminished by the transition of Justice Mustapha Akanbi. His death isn’t just a loss to his family; it is a loss to us all.
”He was a renowned legal luminary, a highly respected judge and an elder statesman. He was committed to the rule of law and social justice.
”Justice Akanbi was one of the few incorruptible judges the nation has ever produced. He epitomises all that is good about the judiciary.
”On the bench, as President of the Court of Appeal, he distinguished himself and gave the profession a good name.
”As pioneer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in 2000, serving till around 2005, Justice Akanbi put in place the structures and laid the foundation for the working of the agency.
”His lordship’s experience as a judge with a clean record had been quite useful for the country’s fight against corruption, ” he said.
Tinubu said that the legal profession, which late Akanbi served all his life, would miss him.
” Justice Akanbi will be particularly missed by lawyers, judges and other Nigerians whom he inspired through his exemplary leadership style and uprightness.
”I urge us all to seek solace in the fact that he lived a life of probity and was an inspiration to many citizens. My appeal is that we all emulate his sterling qualities.
”I commiserate with the family he left behind. I pray that God grant them the strength to bear this transition.
”I also pray that God grants his family and dependants the strength to bear his transition.
”May Allah grant his soul Aljanah Fridaus, ” he said.
Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has commiserated with the governments and people of Adamawa and Kwara states over the demise of the renowned academic and federalist, Dr. Bala Takaya, and anti-corruption czar, Justice Mustapha Akanbi.
Takaya, a one time governorship candidate in Adamawa State was until his passing, the President of Middle Belt Forum. Justice Akanbi was President, Court of Appeal and Chairman of the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) .
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Francis Ottah Agbo, described them as great Nigerians who contributed immensely to the development of the country and prayed for the repose of their souls. He praised Takaya for using the Middle-Belt platform to clamour for restructuring, true federalism and champion minority rights in the country.
While stressing that Akanbi was one of the finest justices in Nigeria, Dickson said while on the bench, Akanbi dispensed justice without fear or favour.
“The country has lost two great Nigerians: intrepid patriots who contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria.
“I can not forget in a hurry how Dr. Bala Takaya, as President of Middle-Belt Forum, helped to give voice to minority rights in the country as well as synergizing with like-minds to expand the frontiers of the clamour for restructuring, fiscal federalism, and devolution of power from the centre to the federating units.
“I remember with nostalgia, the passion and panache with which Takaya delivered his address at the South-South restructuring rally in Yenagoa this year. We all miss him..
“Justice Mustapha Akanbi was a courageous judge who used the bench to dispense justice without fear or favour and rose to be President of Court of Appeal. As chairman of ICPC, he fought corruption to a stand still for which we are grateful to him. His death is clearly an irredeemable loss to the country. ”
Former Abia State Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Orji Kalu, described Akanbi’s death as a huge loss to the nation.
He stressed that the late jurist was incorruptible, upright and bold in his profession.
According to Kalu, the deceased died at a time Nigeria needed his wise counsel on national issues.
In a statement by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu extolled the virtues of the late Justice Mustapha Akanbi.
He said: “The Nigerian judiciary has lost one of its best.
“Having served in various capacities in the private and public sectors both locally and internationally, Justice Akanbi made remarkable contributions to the legal profession beyond the shores of Nigeria.
“He was a philanthropist and a compassionate community leader.
“I commiserate with Ilorin Emirate Council, the government and people of Kwara state over the sad loss”.
The former governor while consoling the Akanbi family, urged them to uphold the good deeds of their patriarch.
Kalu prayed for the repose of Justice Akanbi’s soul.
Human rights lawyer, Ebun-olu Adegboruwa, said in a tribute: “The death of Hon Justice Muhammed Akanbi is a great loss to Nigeria, to the judiciary and to the legal profession in general.
“Justice Akanbi was the founding Chairman of the ICPC, which he nurtured and brought to its present enviable position as one of the foremost anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria.
Justice Akanbi is an incorrigible and incorruptible jurist, a family man and a devout Muslim, who brought to bear his knowledge and experience, upon all that he does.
“His son, Prof Akanbi, was my classmate in the university and in the law school and he eschewed great humility and decorum, even when Justice Akanbi was then the President of the Court of Appeal. It was difficult to differentiate his children from the lot in school. They very very humble and respectful, even till now.
“Nigeria will certainly miss this legal icon.
I pray that God will comfort his family and Nigeria at large.
“Adieu, the true Papa of anti-corruption”.
