Human rights lawyer and public affairs commentator, Chidi Odinkalu, has commended retired Kogi State High Court judge, Professor Omolaye Alaba-Ajileye, describing him as a jurist who demonstrated exceptional integrity, intellect and courage during his years on the Bench.
Odinkalu made the remarks in a post on his X handle on Wednesday ahead of the launch of Alaba-Ajileye’s books on electronic evidence at the Conference Centre of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja.
He recalled that Alaba-Ajileye handled some of the most complex and sensitive cases while serving as a judge of the Kogi State High Court, maintaining fairness and impartiality throughout his judicial career.
According to Odinkalu, the retired judge paid a price for his commitment to justice, alleging that he was denied deserved career advancement because of his judicial independence.
“Professor Omolaye Alaba-Ajileye served with integrity and intellect on the High Court of Kogi State, taking on some of the most difficult cases in the system and retaining balance while he did so.
“As reprisal for his judicial courage, he was denied the preferments that were his due,” Odinkalu wrote.
Following his retirement from the Bench in 2023, Alaba-Ajileye joined the National Open University of Nigeria as a professor, where he has continued his work in legal scholarship.
Odinkalu noted that the retired jurist has developed considerable expertise in electronic evidence, describing the field as increasingly important in modern legal practice.
He expressed confidence that the books would make significant contributions to Nigeria’s legal literature and serve as valuable reference materials for judges, lawyers, academics, law enforcement agencies and students.
The book launch is expected to attract judicial officers, legal practitioners, academics, policymakers and other stakeholders interested in electronic evidence and digital justice administration.
