A one-time Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Iyorgyer Katsina-Alu is dead.

His death was confirmed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Media, Mr. Awassam Bassey.

Bassey said the death of the former Chief Justice was confirmed while the CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen was in Canada.

The statement reads, “A few of our colleagues have called this morning (from about 3:30am Montreal Canadian time) to seek confirmation of the death of former Chief Justice Katsina-Alu.

“I can confirm that the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mrs. Hadizatu Mustapha, sent me a WhatsApp message to that effect about an hour ago confirming the death of the former CJN.

“I have just called the Chief Registrar to confirm that this is indeed the situation. That the Personal Assistant of the former CJN called her at 3.00pm Nigerian time to inform her of the demise.

“However, it’s 3:30am here in Montreal, Canada, where His Lordship the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Mr. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, and other Justices of the Supreme Court and Chief Judges of some states, are attending a conference organised by the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law, and I haven’t yet contacted the Hon. CJN for his reaction.

“I hope to do that as soon as he wakes up and get his reaction.”

Born on August 28, 1941, the deceased who hails from Ushongo in Benue State, served as  the CJN from December 30, 2009 to August 28, 2011.