The immediate past Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdu Kafarati died of cardiac arrest on Thursday evening in his Abuja home.

This was disclosed in a statement by the court.

It said the late jurist died around 7:30 pm of cardiac after observing the evening magrib prayer in Abuja.

The statement issued by the court’s spokeswoman, Catherine Oby Nwandu, quoted the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho as describing his immediate predecessor as “calm and gentle, but very courageous; extremely humble and forthright in all his dealings.”

Justice Tsoho added: “The pain of the exit of late Justice Adamu Abdu Kafarati will be felt by the court and as well as the country at large.”

He prayed the Almighty God will to grant his immediate family, relatives and friends the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Part of the statement reads: “With great sadness, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Honorable Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, regrets to announce the sudden death of the former Chief Judge of this honourable court; Honourable Justice Adamu Abdu Kafarati who passed on last night at about 7:30 pm being 25th February, 2021 after his usual evening magrib prayer in Abuja.

“Born on the 25th of July, 1954 at Kwami, Gombe State, he was appointed to the Federal High Court Bench on 31st October, 1991.

“He became the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court on 16th September, 2017 and was confirmed as the substantive Chief Judge on 19th June, 2018.

“The late Justice Kafarati retired from the Federal High Court Bench on the 25th July, 2019.

“The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Judges of the court, the entire Management and staff of the court commiserate with the family of the deceased.

“The burial arrangements will be done according to Islamic rites as follows: Funeral prayer: Salat Al-Janazah Prayers at the National Mosque Abuja at 2pm prompt.”

It added that ‎internment is scheduled for the National Cemetery Gudu, Abuja.