A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mr Idris Kutigi, died in a London hospital on Sunday after a brief illness, his eldest son, Sani Kutigi has confirmed.

The younger Kutigi confirmed the death in a telephone interview with with our correspondent in Minna on Sunday.

“We are making arrangements to transport our father back for burial,” he said.

Late Kutigi was born on December 31, 1939 and left behind 18 children and over 40 grandchildren.

He was Chief Justice of Nigeria from January 30, 2007 until December 30 2009.

Kutigi served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Niger State until 1976, when he was appointed High Court judge.

He served in that position for more than a decade, and later joined the Supreme Court in 1992.

After 10 years at the Supreme Court, based on the recommendation of National Judicial Council, former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him to the position of Chief Justice to succeed Mr Salihu Alfa Belgore, who retired on January 17, 2007.

NAN