A renowned Islamic scholar and retired justice, Ahmed Lemu, is dead.
He died in the early hours of Thursday morning at the age of 91 in Minna, Niger state.
His son, Nurudeen, announced the death on behalf of his family.
“It is with sadness and reverence to Allah that we announce the passing away of our father, Dr Justice Sheikh Ahmed Lemu OFR, in the early hours of this morning in Minna. Burial arrangements to be announced later,” he said.
His daughter, Maryam Lemu, also confirmed the death when she announced his passing in a Facebook post
“Inna lillahi wa inna liayhi raji’un,” she wrote.
“It is with sadness and reverence to Allah that we announce the passing away of our father, Dr Justice Sheikh Ahmed Lemu OFR, in the early hours of this morning in Minna. Burial arrangements to be announced later.
“It has been a privilege to be the daughter to these two amazing individuals. Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah.”
Born in Niger State, Sheikh Lemu started his career as a teacher under the Bida Native Authority. He was a principal of two famous centres of learning in northern Nigeria: the School for Arabic Studies (SAS), Kano; and the Arabic Teachers’ College, Sokoto.
Lemu also served in the judiciary, first as a Sharia judge at the Court of Appeals in Sokoto and Niger (1976 – 1977), then as Chief Sharia Judge at the Court of Appeals, Niger State (1976 – 1991).
He was one of the two Nigerians who won the King Faisal Prize.
He was chairman of the committee constituted by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 to review the violence that characterised Nigeria’s past elections.
Lemu was also a member of the Nigerian Council of Religions, the Presidential Council for Youth Development, and various other national committees and councils.
