Senior lawyers and jurists yesterday celebrated retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Massoud AbdulRahman Oredola, at a book launch in Ilorin, Kwara State, describing his contributions to Nigeria’s legal system as legendary.

The occasion was the presentation of a book titled “Trends of Contemporary Issues in Law, Sharia and Jurisprudence for Good Governance in Nigeria,” compiled by the Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Presiding Judge of the Ilorin Division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi, who chaired the occasion, said Justice Oredola distinguished himself through diligence, intellectual depth and unwavering commitment to the rule of law.

“Today’s gathering is not merely the unveiling of a book. It is a celebration of an extraordinary life dedicated to the service of justice, scholarship, integrity and humanity. It is a fitting tribute to a jurist whose contributions have left indelible footprints on the legal landscape of Nigeria and beyond,” Justice Abdullahi said.

He noted that Justice Oredola served on the bench of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal for over a decade, contributing significantly to the development of Islamic jurisprudence. His reputation, Justice Abdullahi added, earned him the privilege of serving as Deputy Chief Justice in Zanzibar, East Africa.

“Upon his elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2008, Justice Oredola continued to distinguish himself as a jurist of exceptional learning and impeccable character. Until his retirement in 2019, he delivered judgements reflecting profound scholarship, meticulous analysis and a steadfast commitment to justice,” he added.

Chairman of the NBA Ilorin Book Presentation Planning Committee, Abdulfatai Bello, said the book was published in honour of Justice Oredola because of his exemplary judicial career marked by integrity and unwavering commitment to justice.

Grand Kadi of Kwara State, Justice AbdulLateef Kamaldeen, described Justice Oredola as “a judicial titan, a consummate jurist and an exemplary fine mind who has dedicated decades of his life to the administration of justice in Nigeria.”

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adebayo Adelodun, said the NBA Ilorin branch was giving honour to whom honour was due, noting that Justice Oredola’s judgements had helped advance the frontiers of legal education.

NBA Ilorin Branch Chairman, Barr. S.M.H. Kosemani, said the association had cultivated a tradition of recognising outstanding legal icons through scholarly publications, adding that Justice Oredola’s choice as honouree was informed by his exceptional record of service, modesty and humility.

In his response, Justice Oredola expressed profound gratitude to God and the NBA Ilorin branch for the recognition.

“In life, whatever you do, just put in your best and leave the rest in the hands of God. We thank Almighty Allah for bringing us to a position where recognition is accorded to us not posthumously but while we are still alive,” he said.

Source: The Nation News