Akanbi : He was anti corruption czar – Saraki

President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki yesterday joined other Nigerians to mourn the demise of the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi .
Justice Akanbi who died at the age of 86 in the early hours of yesterday in Ilorin has been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described the late Akanbi as an indefatigable, honest and principled jurist who upheld the fi ne ethics of the judicial process till he breathed his last.
“I am sad that Baba (Akanbi) has left us.
He was fearless, courageous and spoke truth to power during his lifetime.
He was like a father to me.
His deathis a personal loss.
Kwara State will miss him.
Nigeria will miss him,” he said.
He stated that the late Justice Akanbi would be remembered for his unquenchable zeal to restore the principles of transparency and accountability in the country through his fight against corruption.
He said: “He was an anticorruption czar who fought the malaise both when he was in and out of office.
“He never gave up.
His untiring zeal to stamp out corruption from all facet of our national life never dimmed.
He lived what he preached and you could see there was no pretense about him at all.
“He was an incorruptible jurist whose judgements could hardly be faulted while on the bench.
During his stint as Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), he fought corruption with uncommon passion and courage.
“After leaving office as the ICPC boss, he again joined the board of the Justice and Law Enforcement Reformation Organisation – a non-profit organization – to continue his anti-corruption crusade.
Besides, he later established the Mustapha Akanbi Foundation, in furtherance of his quest to strengthen the culture of transparency, accountability and good governance in the country.” He described Akanbi as a true son of Kwara State whose many contributions to the development of his immediate community, state in particular, and the country in general, will remain indelible in the hearts of the people.
In its own reaction, the Muslim Media Watch Group ( MMWG) in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Abdullahi, described the late elderstateman as an outstanding Jurist and incorruptible Judge whose credibility earned him accolades, respect and honour till death.