The Ondo State Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, has described the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu as a man of courage.
Akeredolu died in Germany on December 27, 2023, during a protected illness.
His remains were brought to the state on Wednesday in line with the stipulated burial arrangement.
The chief judge spoke at a Special Court Session in honour of the late former governor held at the state High Court headquarters in Akure, the state capital on Wednesday.
Family, friends professional and political associates of the deceased were in the court room to honour the late governor.
Justice Odusola said, “Arakunrin (Akeredolu )was a courageous fighter, who faced the serious security challenges in the state with such ingenious courage that his approach has become a national model.
“He was amazingly down to earth and this great asset is also his major weakness in a society where sycophancy is the order of the day
“Whatever he promised to do, he would fight to accomplish. He had a desire to build an ultra-modern facility for the High Court (and had started the journey), but could not do so partly because of his ill health but largely because the individual who stood as the eye of the Executives in the administration of the judiciary could not interpret that dream.
“It is a delight, to note that Arakunrin never interfered with judicial activities even when it did not favour his desires. He would always tell us ‘Milord, deliver your judgment in your true conscience, if I am not satisfied I will appeal.’ That is the man we are all gathered here to bid farewell on his last journey. I am paying tribute to a man who understood the principles of separation of powers and lived it, not only in words but in action.”