Former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida has mourned a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Kutigi.

In a statement on Sunday, General Babangida extended his condolences to the family of the eminent jurist.

He said, “the great late justice was consistently upright, and it was no surprise that he rose to become a very respected judicial officer and ultimately to the highest judicial office in Nigeria.”

The former military president added that the elder statesman left at a time when his counsel was most needed in the country.

He prayed that Allah grants Justice Kutigi’s soul rest and the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the death of the jurist as a huge loss to the nation and the judiciary.

“Justice Kutigi was an outstanding administrator; a fearless, impartial and firm judicial officer, who upheld justice and the law in all his assignments at the bench,” the party said in a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan.

“As the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kutigi ensured the independence of the judiciary as an arm of government and contributed in no little way in providing direction to our nation at very critical moments in our national development.”

The party noted that besides his incisive judgments, Nigerians would always remember Justice Kutigi’s forthrightness as the Chairman of the 2014 Constitutional Conference, which made far-reaching recommendations for the development and stability of the nation.

It also sympathised with Justice Kutigi’s family, the government and people of Niger State, as well as the judiciary for the “irreparable loss”.