President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Saturday paid tribute to the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mamman Nasir.
Nasir died on Saturday at the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, after a brief illness.
He was 90 years old.
The president described Nasir’s death “as not only a loss to the judiciary, but also the country at large, because of his remarkable commitment to public service.”
Reacting to the death of the Galadiman Katsina in a statement soon after he heard the news, President Buhari recalled that “the late Nasir belonged to a generation of Judges and Justices who perceived public office as an opportunity to offer selfless service to the country and its people.”
According to Buhari, “Nasir and Judges of their golden age were more interested in leaving untainted record of integrity than accumulation of wealth overnight.”
Buhari said “when you look at Nasir’s modest lifestyle and his incredibly humble possessions, you would be disarmed at once by his honesty and patriotism.”
“While some Nigerians perceive public office as an opportunity to line their pockets, men of Nasir’s character put a higher premium on honest labour than on greedy accumulation of questionable wealth overnight,” Buhari added.
President Buhari explained that “gentlemen like Mamman Nasir succeeded in protecting their reputation because greed was far removed from their minds” and that “contentment is the secret to a happy life of service to the people.”
According to the President, “lack of contentment is the devil behind greedy accumulation of wealth at the expense of others, but selfless public servants like Nasir were never motivated by the desire to live above their means.”
President Buhari said “Nasir’s family should be proud of their father because he built a solid and impeccable record of integrity, which is the greatest asset any individual should leave behind.”
The President directed that a government delegation be sent to commiserate with the family, the government and people of Katsina State for the loss.
Also, expressing sadness of Nasir’s death, Saraki described the late judge as an eminent jurist who contributed immensely to national development.
Saraki in statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that the legacies of the late jurist which were replete in his copious rulings and judgements on the many cases he presided during his lifetime would remain a guiding light and source of inspiration to both members of the bench and bar for a long time to come.
Saraki said: “Justice Mamman Nasir was a fearless and hardworking jurist who approached every assignment with firmness and patriotism. He contributed immensely to the development of the judiciary in particular and the nation in general. We shall all miss him.
“He looked very strong when I presented his award to him at the inaugural annual awards ceremony of the Body of Benchers. Nobody could see him that day and predict that he was in his last days. But Allah knows best,” Saraki stated.
The President of the Senate commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased, the nation’s judiciary, the government and people of Katsina State over the loss.
He prayed Allah to grant the departed soul a place among the righteous ones in Aljannah firdaus and his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.