By Kayode Adeoti
Thousands of residents of Ilorin, legal luminaries, traditional rulers, professional bodies and government functionaries from far and wide, yesterday, paid their last respect to pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi at the Metropolitan Square, Asa Dam road, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The gathering, which was the fidau on the departed jurist, kicked off 11am was attended by a representative of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN).
In their messages, the Emir of Shonga, Alhaji Yahya Aliru, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leader, Issa Aremu, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch, called for the immediate immortalisation of the Wakili of Ilorin Emirate (Justice Mustapha).
Speaking with our reporter yesterday, the Emir, described the jurist as a fantastic friend, saying he deserved to be immortalised.
“He was a fantastic friend, he deserved the highest honour, if government could immortalise him, it will signal a good thing,” Aliru said.
Similarly, the chairman of the NBA, Ilorin branch, Barr. Issa Manzuma said both the state and Federal Government should yield to the yearnings of the people by immortalising the departed jurist without hesitation.
“We want the immortalisation of Baba Akanbi as soon as possible. The state and the Federal Government should heed this call,” Manzuma said.
In his remarks, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leader, Issa Aremu stressed that the deceased has made his mark in the fight against corruption.
According to him, setting up an institution in his honour will be expedient to appreciate a man who has helped the country in the fight against corrupt practices and many other negative vices.
Salman Alarape Aliyu (SAN) noted that the works of the deceased must be represented with something so that his children and relative will be proud of Nigeria.
“The children and relatives of the deceased will always be happy if Baba Aknabi is immortalised with a concrete and visible project. I believe the family will be proud of Nigeria if this could be done.”
Also, the former Grand Khadi of the state, Justice Solihu Olohuntoyin Mohammed said that the jurist has left the face of the earth but his efforts will remain indelible.
“He was a great man who impacted religions, political and economic lives of this country for good. He was an icon in the judiciary.”
In his message, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) stressed that the death of the jurist is a loss to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
He said despite facing challenges, the late justice was able to lay foundation against corruption in Nigeria.
“As the pioneer chairman of ICPC, he worked tirelessly to lay the foundation of a critical pillar of Nigeria’s nascent anti-graft institutional framework, despite the challenges of that era.”
He described Akanbi as a man with unimpeachable and patriotic character saying he remained strong and persuasive in the articulation and implementation of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agenda.
In his sermon, the Grand Mukadam of Ilorin, Alhaji Suleiman Dan-Borno, cautioned public office holders against hypocrisy, maintaining that the late jurist was fearless during his lifetime.
The cleric added that Baba Akanbi, as fondly called, was until his death the pillar of Ilorin Emirate adding that he prepared for death with his enviable character.
