Alfa Belgore, a former chief justice of Nigeria, CJN, has described the conferment of Nigeria’s highest national honour on MKO Abiola, as illegal.
In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the retired judge maintains that only the living can receive these honours, especially the GCFR.
He stated that the best that could have been done for him was to name a place after him.
He added that according to the 1963 National Honours Act, posthumous medals can only be conferred on soldiers or other servicemen for their gallantry.
Apart from Abiola, President Buhari also conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, on Baba Gana Kingibe, Abiola’s running mate, and Gani Fawehinmi, the late human rights lawyer.
Buhari’s move has elicited mixed feelings, with some people praising him, while some others are saying it has a political tinge.
Photo Credit: The Nigerian Lawyer
