Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa President of the Court of Appeal, has expressed shock on the death of two justices of the Court in the Hajj stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mrs Sa’adatu Musa, Media and Publicity Officer, Court of Appeal and made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.

The statement listed the dead justices to include Abubakar Jega and M.H. Alkali of Abuja and Ilorin divisions of the court respectively.

It said that the President described their sudden passage as “huge losses not only to the judiciary but to the entire country.’’

Bulkachuwa said the two late justices had never been found wanting in the discharge of their responsibilities, adding that they were highly principled on the bench.

“Justice Zainab on behalf of the justices and the entire staff of the Court of Appeal prayed Almighty Allah to grant the souls of the departed jurists Aljannah Firdausi.

“She also prayed that God should grant their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses,’’ the statement said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two late justices were among the more than 700 pilgrims who lost their lives in Thursday’s stampede. (NAN)