The former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Alhaji Salihu Alfa Belgore, on Sunday hosted dignitaries to mark his 80th birthday.
The Celebrator and former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Alhaji Salihu Alfa Belgore(R), with his wife Aisha, during his 80th Birthday celebration in Abuja (22/0/17).
From left: Senate President Bukola Saraki; Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Muhammed Uwais; Representative of the President, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Celebrant and former CJN, Alhaji Salihu Alfa Belgore, during Belgore’s 80th Birthday celebration in Abuja (22/0/17).
Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma (L), with the representative of the President, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alhaji Salihu Alfa Belgore’s 80th Birthday celebration in Abuja (22/0/17).
President Muhammadu Buhari currently on vacation congratulated erudite lawyer, administrator and former Chief Justice of Nigeria.
In a statement in Abuja on Thursday, the President joined professional colleagues, family and friends of the legal luminary in commemorating his birthday.
Buhari noted the achievements of Belgore while in service, saying his deeds had culminated in the prestigious national awards of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
As stated by the President, Belgore’s passion for jurisprudence will not stop to inspire the younger generation of lawyers in making the right choices for nation building.
He recalled the octogenarian’s versatility in issues of culture, language and history, and his penchant for research.
President Muhammadu Buhari noted that the former chief justice, who was also Chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, had “already booked an honourable place in the history of Nigeria.”
Buhari prayed that almighty God would grant Justice Belgore longer life, good health and more prosperous years to continue in the service of the country.
Belgore as public servant had variously served as judge, chief judge, justice of the Court of Appeal, before being elevated to Supreme Court Bench in 1986, from where he reached the pinnacle of his career as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Born on Jan. 17, 1937 in Ilorin, the Kwara capital, Belgore attended Okesuna Primary School, as well as Middle School in Ilorin before he proceeded to Ilesa Grammar School where he obtained the West Africa School Certificate in 1956.
He received bachelor’s degree in Law in 1963 and trained at Middle Temple for one year before he returned to Nigeria in 1964 and served magistrate in Northern Nigeria.
The octogenarian was the 10th chief justice of Nigeria. He was preceded by Muhammad Lawal Uwais and succeeded by Idris Legbo Kutigi.
In 1986, he was appointed to the bench of Supreme Court of Nigeria as Justice and
held several positions in the judiciary before he was appointed CJN in July 2006, a position he held until January 2007 when he retired.