The pioneer Grand Kadi of Kwara State, Justice AbdulKadir Orire (Rtd), CON, is dead.
His death on Tuesday 13th Jumadal-Akhir, 1442AH equivalent to 26th January, 2021, which was announced by a source believed to be from the family, was confirmed by a post on a Jama’atu Nasril Islamic (JNI) related forum by Musbaudeen Muhammad Raji, who said, “Inna lillahi was Inna ilehi rojiuna!!! We lost Justice AbdulKadir Orire (Rtd), CON, former Grand Kadi of Kwara State and former Sec. Gen. JNI, this evening,” Raji said.
In the announcement earlier, the source said “burial arrangement is slated for tomorrow Wednesday 27-01-2021. May Allah grant him aljannatu’l-firdaws.”
In a post by Chairman of Oyo State Muslim Council and former National President of National Council of Muslim Youths (NACOMYO), Alhaji Kunle Sanni, the late Sharia Court jurist was eulogized as a major contributor to the development of Islam and social justice in Nigeria.
“Justice Abdukadir Orire belongs to the generation of late Sheikh Ahmed Lemu. He was a pillar to the Muslim Student’s Society Of Nigeria and for many years the chairman of the BOT of the organisation. To further the propagation of Islam sheikh Orire founded The Islamic Missionary Association Of Nigeria (IMAN). He was a member of Nigeria Interreligious Council (NIREC) the position he voluntarily relinquished for a younger Alhaj Aliu Badmus another dynamic jihadist from kwara state recently. Justice Orire was the pioneer Deputy President of Nigeria Dawah coordination Council (NDCC) founded by his friend and colleague at London School of oriental studies
“Sheikh Ahmed Lemu who also answered Allah’s call a few months ago. He was for many years the secretary General of Jamatu Nasril Islam. The Muslim Ummah have lost a dynamic and brilliant jihadist and scholar
May Allah blot out his sins, accept his wonderful contribution to the propagation of Islam as acts Ibadah and reward him with jannat Firdaous,” Sanni posted.
In the meantime, several dignitaries including the Emir of Ilorin, HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, have sent their condolences in mourning the late legal luminary.
Emir of Ilorin mourns
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has expressed shock over the death of the pioneer Grand Khadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice AbdulKadir Orire (rtd).
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari described the deceased as a committed elderstateman who contributed immensely to the propagation of Islam in the society.
A condolence message issued by the Emir’s Spokesman, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, reads:
“The Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari is deeply saddened by the death of the Sarkin Malami of Ilorin, Hon. Justice AbdulKadir Orire who died on Tuesday.
“Alhaji Orire was a prominent member of the Jamatul Nasirul Islam, (JNI) and played prominent roles in the establishment and nurturing of the association which later became so strong nationwide. He mentored many youths to become scholars of high values and legal practitioners of repute. During his active days in service, he was outstanding and disciplined. After he retired from service, he dedicated his life to dawah activities and community services.”
The Emir however condoled his families both immediate and extended, friends, traditional chiefs, the people of Ilorin Emirate Council and the entire Muslim ummah over the great loss.
“May Allah be pleased with soul, forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds and admit him into Al-janatul firdaos” , the Emir prayed.
Kwara Governor mourns
In his condolence message he personally signed, Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, mourned the late Kwara State’s pioneer Grand Khadi Justice Orire.
Governor AbdulRazaq said: “Today, our state lost of one of its finest jurists, a founding father, and indeed a national statesman, retired Justice AbdulKadir Orire (CON), who was the pioneer Grand Khadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal between 1975 and 1999. He died at the ripe age of 87.
“With total submission to the will of Almighty Allaah who is the giver and taker of life, I join all our people in Ilorin and across Kwara and Kogi States to mourn the passing of this exemplary leader who distinguished himself as an erudite legal scholar, researcher, Muslim community leader, and development activist. Justice Orire devoted his entire life to scholarship, humanitarian services, propagation of Islam, and inter-religious peace-building in Kwara and Nigeria. His roles in the founding of the University of Ilorin and other great institutions stand tall for posterity. Baba would be sorely missed!
“On behalf of my family, the people and government of Kwara State, I commiserate with Mai Martaba the Emir of Ilorin Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), and the entire state on this sad yet inevitable development. My special commiseration goes to the immediate and extended family of Justice Orire who would carry on the great legacies of the great Islamic leader and jurist. I pray Almighty Allaah to grant Baba al-Jannah Firdaus and comfort the family he left behind.”
His contribution to national issue
In a 1 October 2016 media report, Justice AbdulKadir Orire, as Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), had cautioned Federal Government against banning hijab, when he condemned insinuations that the use of hijab was aiding suicide bombings in the Boko Haram infested North Eastern part of the country.
Orire, the pioneer Grand Khadi of Kwara State’s Sharia Court of Appeal, said MSSN will not accept the ban of anything that is part of Islamic doctrines as divinely ordained by Allah.
He, therefore, condemned calls by some people for the banning of hijab which he described as part of dress of Muslim women.
He maintained that wearing of hijab was a divine commandment from Allah and disagreed with those attributing spate of bombings to those wearing hijab as unfortunate.
“Wearing of hijab is part of life of Muslims. Certainly Muslims will not accept the banning of anything that is part of Islam”, he said.
Orire was of the view that removing religious knowledge as a subject from schools curriculum would further compound moral decadence in the society.
He said one of the factors that aided Boko Haram was lack of adequate religious knowledge which he said would be worsened if religious teaching was removed from school curriculum.
“Anybody that is calling for the banning of faith teachings in schools curriculum is kidding. Muslims will not accept it”, he said.
Profile
According to his profile updated Tuesday 07 March 2017, Mr Justice Abdulkadir Orire was born on 1936 in Ilorin, Kwara State. He had his primary and secondary education between 1943 and 1951 at llorin, after which he attended Kano Islamic Law School. 1951—1955. He later obtained a Diploma from the School of Oriental Studies, London in 1961 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of London in 1964. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Mr. Justice Orire, the pioneer Grand Khadi of Kwara State, was a member of Law Development and International Criminal Review Committee. The late jurist, whose hobbies included farming and reading, was married with children and was doing well until his last breath.
