Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore, a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA), has sadly passed away. The news of Belgore’s demise was confirmed on Tuesday night by Kamaldeen Gambari, Esq., the chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ilorin branch in Kwara State.
Gambari announced the news via social media platforms, expressing condolences and praying for forgiveness for the deceased. Belgore retired from his role as a Justice of the Court of Appeal on April 18, 2023, upon reaching the retirement age of 70.
Born on April 18, 1953, Belgore pursued his legal education at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he obtained his LL.B (Hons.) degree with a specialization in Islamic Law from 1975 to 1978. He later attended the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1979.
Throughout his illustrious career, Belgore served in various capacities within the legal profession. He was appointed as a Notary Public in 1987 and went on to hold positions such as Judge of the High Court of Justice, Kwara State, Resident High Court Judge in Offa Judicial Division of Kwara State, and Chairman of the Special Miscellaneous Offences Tribunal in Abuja.
Belgore’s dedication to justice extended beyond Nigerian borders, as he was seconded to the Judiciary of the Republic of the Gambia. He served as a Justice of Appeal in the Gambia Court of Appeal and later assumed the role of acting Justice of the Supreme Court of the Gambia until December 2005.
Upon his return to Nigeria, Belgore was appointed as a Justice of the Court of Appeal in 2006 and held various significant positions within the judiciary, including Presiding Justice of the Sharia Panel of the Court of Appeal and later as the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal in the Ekiti Division.
In recognition of his contributions to the legal profession, Belgore was appointed a member of the Body of Benchers of Nigeria in October 2015 and received the honor of becoming a Life Bencher in February 2021. He retired from his distinguished career on April 18, 2023, at the age of 70.
