The award of Nigeria’s highest national honour to late Moshood Abiola has been declared illegal by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore. Preside
The award of Nigeria’s highest national honour to late Moshood Abiola has been declared illegal by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore. President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday evening named Chief MKO Abiola, winner of 1993 presidential election that was annulled by former dictator Ibrahim Babangida, a holder of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR, 20 years after his death in 1998. Gani Fawehinmi, a rights advocate and icon of the June 12 struggle, was also posthumously honoured with the Grand Commander of Nigeria (GCON) by Mr Buhari. Mr Fahinmi died in 2009 at 71.
Mr Belgore, CJN from 2006 to 2007, said the national honours could not be awarded posthumously, much less the GCFR, which is the highest honour in the land.
“It is not done. It is for people living. The only thing they could do is to name a place after him, but national honours award, no,” he said.
Mr Belgore, who was chairman of the 2016 national honours committee, also said he was not consulted by the Buhari administration before the decision was taken. Mr Belgore said under the 1964 National Honours Act, only soldiers or other servicemen could be awarded posthumous medals for their bravery.
