Alfa Belgore
A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justica (CJN), Alfa Belgore, has stated the award of Nigeria’s highest nationwide honour to late Moshood Abiola is unlawful.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday offered the alleged winner of 1993 presidential election, MKO Abiola, with the title of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), 20 years after his dying in 1998.
The president additionally declared that Democracy Day could be celebrated on June 12 to additional honour the reminiscence of Abiola.
Belgore, CJN from 2006-2007, stated the nationwide honours can't be awarded posthumously, a lot much less the GCFR, which is the very best honour within the land.
“It is not done. It is for people living. The only thing they could do is to name a place after him, but national honours award, no,” Belgore advised Premium Times.
Belgore, chairman of the 2016 nationwide honours committee, additionally stated he “was not consulted” by the Buhari administration earlier than the choice was taken.
The former CJN stated underneath the 1963 National Honours Act, solely troopers or different servicemen might be awarded posthumous medals for his or her bravery.