From Segun Amure (The New Diplomat’s Abuja Bureau)
Nigeria’s former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abdullahi Ibrahim, is dead at 82.
Ibrahim reportedly died of Covid-19 complications at an isolation centre, in Abuja, Sunday.
Born in Kogi, Ibrahim had also served as Minister of Transport and Aviation (1984-85) under the Buhari-Tunde Idiagbon military regime.
In a message on Sunday, President Buhari described Abdullahi Ibrahim as an “exemplary lawyer and statesman with impeccable integrity who will be remembered for his selfless service to the country. He was an extraordinary philanthropist who rendered legal services without charge to many who could not pay.
“As Minister in my government, Abdullahi Ibrahim will be remembered for doing so much to empower the girl child, including access to education.
“His work as member of the Nigerian team that negotiated the Maritime Boundary Treaty between Nigeria and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the Unitization Agreement of the Zafiro/Ekanga Oil Fields has left an indelible mark on the trajectory of this country’s history and development. His accomplishments will continue to make us proud.”
Late Ibrahim was called to the English Bar in 1963. He was later called to the Nigerian Bar in 1964.
He served as Legal Adviser and Senior State Counsel in the defunct Northern Region of Nigeria. He started private practice in 1973 as Managing Partner of Abdullahi Ibrahim and company.
However, Ibrahim was Legal Adviser and later Chairman of New Nigeria Development Company Limited, (NNDC) in 1982.
He was Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria (1997 – May 1999) in the cabinet of General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
