Oputa passes on at 96

AFTER a long battle with stroke, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, known as the Socrates of the Nigerian judiciary  finally gave up the ghost in Abuja Sunday at the age of 96.

Justice Oputa, father to popular musician and social commentator, Charly Boy,  had been battling with  stroke  for sometime.

  The late judge, reputed for his courage,  headed the Human Rights Investigation Commission  now popularly called  the Oputa Panel, to investigate abuses during 15 years of military rule, which ended when President Olusegun  Obasanjo took office on  May 29, 1999.

  Reacting to his death, Lagos-based Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Joseph  Nwobike said:  “How are the mighty fallen! This is the end of an enviable era ,  the era of justice  according to reason, good conscience  and progressive legalism.

 “The man was an epitome of what a judge should be. His judicial exploits  and expositions will continue to resonate for centuries in the entire Commonwealth.

 For renowned constitutional lawyer, James Ezike,  “the demise of  the legendary lawyer  and jurist marks the passing of an age, the age  where those who adjudicate  had their footprints as practitioners as can be gleaned from the Law Reports”.

  The Chairman of the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr  Monday Ubani, also said the country  has once again  lost one of the greatest jurists ever to pass through the land.

 “He was one of the best judges to occupy the Supreme Court of Nigeria, he was likened to Lord Denning  of England  in terms of boldness, language and innovativeness while delivering  judgement on many issues.

  His judgement,  whether as lead,  concurring or dissenting were usually  deep and breathtaking. His time at the Supreme Court of Nigeria with the likes of  Justices Obaseki and Eso remains  the best ever  in the history of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

 An Abuja-based Senior Advocate, Sebastine Hon in his tribute said “ What  a loss ! Our generation  has lost a  legal colossus! Our consolation , however, lies in the fact  that he left  indelible  marks  on the sands of out legal  jurisprudence. I strongly recommend that  the federal  and his  state governments should immortalise him . ”

 For human rights lawyer, Ebun –Olu Adegboruwa, the death of  Hon. Justice  Oputa is a colossal loss to Nigeria  as whole  and the judiciary  in particular.

  “This Socrates of the Nigerian judiciary, was very erudite , forthright and fearless. He was the epitome of judicial personality, the very conscience of judicial activism and jurisprudential integrity.

  “He was intellectually  rich, dynamic, sound, loaded with tremendous content, in wisdom and prudence. He looked injustice and lawlessness directly in the eye, spoke fearlessly to impunity and wanton disregard for the rule of law.

   Reacting to Oputa’s death, the Imo State Government through the Special Assistant to Governor Rochas Okorocha , Mr. Sam Onwuemedo said  “Oputa was one of the foremost jurists the country has produced. ”

 “He was a good ambassador of the Igbo Nation and Imo State.

Governor Rochas Okorocha had thought that sending him overseas for treatment would have saved his life but God knows better.”