President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday honoured the late former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Kutigi, by authorising his burial at the National Cemetery.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, revealed this in a statement.

President Buhari also paid tribute to Justice Kutigi, hailing his contributions to the evolution of the country’s jurisprudence.

He said that the nation would not forget the hard work and dedication of the eminent jurist.

The National Cemetery is reserved for the nation’s fallen heroes and it requires the discretionary approval of a sitting President for a citizen to be given a final resting place in its grounds.

President Buhari had sent a government delegation led by his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, to represent him at the funeral prayer at the National Mosque, Abuja, and thereafter, the burial at the National Cemetery.

Other members of the presidential delegation included the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Bello; and the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

The government delegation had also paid a condolence visit to the widows and other family members of Justice Kutigi at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja.