The first lawyer from the Northern Region of Nigeria and father of the current governor of Kwara State, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdul-Razaq, SAN, is dead.
Born on Sunday, November 13, 1927 in Onitsha, the late AbdulRazaq, the Mutawali of Ilorin, Tafida of Zazzau (Zaria) and Chairman of the Nigerian Body of Benchers, died peacefully at about 2am. on Saturday.
AbdulRazaq was former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire, a Minister in the first republic and reputed as the first Kwara Commissioner of Finance upon the creation of the state in 1967. He also worked at the Nigerian Stock Exchange for a number of decades.
A statement released by Dr. Alimi AbdulRazaq on behalf of the family reads:
“With total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, the AbdulRazaqs of Ilorin Emirate of Kwara State hereby announce the passing of their patriarch and statesman Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdul-Razaq SAN (OFR) at the age of 93 in Abuja and was born in 1927.”
“The Mutawali of Ilorin and Tafida of Zazzau (Zaria), who was Chairman of the Nigerian Body of Benchers, died peacefully at about 2a.m. on Saturday July 25th, 2020 (the 4th day of Dhul-Hijjah 1441 AH.)
“The first lawyer from the Northern Region is survived by his 90-year-old wife Alhaja Raliat AbdulRazaq, illustrious children (including incumbent Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq), and grandchildren.
“Arrangement for his interment will be announced by the family shortly.”