The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Josiah Joe Majebi, has described the late Justice, Stephen Sado Idajili as a frank, firm and courageous law 0fficer, who has made his mark in the judicial circuit in Nigeria.
The Chief Judge who stated this during a valedictory court session in honour of the late retired Justice Idajili, also described him as an honest and incorruptible judge who had extreme aversion for injustice and suppression of the rights of the under privileged in the society.
He noted that the judgements and decisions of Idajili are landmarks and fountain of knowledge for the young and upwardly mobile legal practitioners in the state and beyond, saying that he left behind an indelible footprint on the sands of time.
The Chief Judge while commending the Kogi State governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, for making the valedictory court session a success, said: “I have gone through the application moved by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Kogi State, Muizdeen Yunus Abdullahi, praying for an order of committal to earth of the lifeless body of Idajili. The application is meritorious and it is accordingly, granted as prayed.
Speaking during the session, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice said the late Justice Idajili is a fearless judicial officer, and a beacon of integrity.
He noted that the activities of the late Justice and his landmark decisions which contributed in shaping the legal profession in the country, will outlive him, even though has departed to the great beyond.
He thereafter moved the motion that the Chief Judge, Justice Josiah Joe Majebi grant his plea that the body of late Justice Idajili be released to the family for burial, which was subsequently granted.
Also eulogizing the deceased, the president of the Nigeria Bar Association, Lokoja branch, Samuel Akoji, who spoke on behalf of the NBA, highlighted the sterling qualities of the late Justice, whom he noted has contributed greatly to the legal profession in Nigeria.
According to him, the late Justice Idajili was God-fearing in rendering service to the underprivileged in the society, saying that he never compromised his position, adding that he is a man of courage, integrity and very transparent in all his dealings with the people who crossed his part.
Idajili was born on April 15, 1942 to the family of Idajili Oyibo and Ajuma Achor, both of Egume-Ome in Dekina Local Government Area of the present Kogi State.
He attended the Native Authority primary school in Efakwu-Egune in the 40s and proceeded to Okene Teachers College in the present day Okene Local Government Area and was thereafter admitted into the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1973 to read Law and graduated in 1976 with LLB, (Hons).
Late Justice Idajili was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978. He started his career in the old Benue state as a legal officer and was letter appointed magistrate and became a Chief magistrate in April in 1985 and later deputy registrar and registrar in 1987 and 1989 respectively.
Giving his enviable track record, he was appointed a high court judge of Kogi State in 1992 and retired in April 2007, before his demise on April 30, 2024.
