About 27 years after the highly controversial June 12 election was annulled by the Ibrahim Babaginda military regime, the chief judge who presided over the case, Justice Dahiru Saleh has died at the age of 81.

Justice Saleh, who until his death held the title of ‘Matawallen’ of Katagum Emirate in Bauchi was announced dead after a brief illness on May 7 in Azare, Bauchi state.

His grandson, Armayau Abubakar Liman, was first to share the news on his Facebook page on Thursday.

“Inna lillahi wa Inna ilaihi rajiun. My grandfather, Justice Muhammad Dahiru Saleh, Rtd. Former CJ FCT. (Matawallen Katagum), has passed on this Afternoon. I solicit your prayers for Allah’s mercy on his soul. Allah ya gafarta maka Baba Justice. Allah ya kyauta makwanci ka da sauran Alumma baki daya,” he posted.

The spokesman of Bauchi state governor, Mukhtar Gidado who confirmed Saleh’s death told Premium Times that the deputy governor of the state, Baba Tela, is expected to visit the deceased’s family in Azare town where he is to deliver the state government’s condolences on behalf of Governor Bala Mohammed.

The former Chief Judge was reportedly buried yesterday evening at the Emir of Katagum’s palace in Azare, Bauchi state according to Islamic rites.

Born in 1939 in Azare, Bauchi state, Justice Saleh was the Chief judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in 1993 when the case regarding the June 12 presidential election was brought before him.

The election which was adjudged to be one of the most credible in the history of Nigeria was presumably won by Chief MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party. According to the released result, he defeated his closest rival, Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention by a wide margin. But Abiola’s mandate was not upheld following the annulment that shocked the whole country on June 23, 1993.

Relentless in his effort to claim his victory, Abiola was later arrested by General Sani Abacha who had come into power by toppling the interim government led by Ernest Shonekan. The successful businessman was locked away for a long time until he died in detention in July 1998.

Although Justice Saleh later defended his decision and faulted MKO Abiola for not appealing the verdict if he found it unsatisfactory, it is believed that the error in judgment by Saleh set the country on a rough path on its journey to democracy.

In recognition of MKO Abiola’s victory in the June 12 election, President Muhammadu Buhari posthumously conferred him with Nigeria’s highest national honour, GCFR, in 2018 and declared June 12 as the new Democracy Day in Nigeria. MKO Abiola is regarded as one of Nigeria’s icons of democracy.

The post Justice Dahiru Saleh, the chief judge who annulled June 12 election has died in Bauchi appeared first on Neusroom.