A former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Idris Kutigi has passed away in a London hospital at age 78.
Sani Kutigi, his eldest son, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), saying it happened after a brief illness.
Justice Kutigi reportedly died on Sunday, October 21.
“We are making arrangements to transport our father back for burial,” he was quoted to have said.
The deceased who was born December 31, 1939, he left behind eighteen children and over forty grandchildren.
Africa News 24 reports that Justice Kutigi was the chief justice of Nigeria between January 30, 2007, and December 30, 2009.
The deceased served as the attorney-general and commissioner for justice in Niger state until 1976, when he was appointed a high court judge.
Justice Kutigi served in that position for more than a decade and later joined the Supreme Court in 1992.
After 10 years at the Supreme Court, based on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him to the position of chief justice to succeed Salihu Alfa Belgore, who retired on January 17, 2007.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him chairman of the Sovereign National Conference in 2014.