CJN to Judges: Our Works Shall Testify for Us When We’re Gone

•Others eulogise late Supreme Court Justice Nweze

Alex Enumah in Abuja

As justices, lawyers and critical stakeholders in the Justice sector eulogise the late Justice Chima Nweze, a former Justice of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has harped on the need for judicial officers to be mindful of their conduct while alive because it would surely speak for them when pass away.

Nweze died on July 29, 2023, at the age of 64 years, soon after a short ailment. He was six years short of the 70 years retirement age for justices of the superior court.

Ariwoola, who gave the charge yesterday during a valedictory court session held in honour of the late jurist, stressed that death was a necessary end and would come at the appointed time.

“There is no rehearsal, there is no practice on how and when to die. We die once and that ends the sojourn here on earth. No one can spend a moment longer than the time permitted by the Almighty God.

“That is the more reason why we should always be very mindful of the fact that there is a tide in the affairs of men. The works of our hands shall testify on our behalf when we are gone,” he said.

Ariwoola who was full of praise for the late jurist, disclosed that Nweze “was one of those cerebrally mobile judicial officers in our contemporary history, who had latched on our memory an enviable degree of intellectual eminence and legal finesse that encompassed all spheres of philosophy and methodical reasoning.”

He said Nweze was a unique and nationalistic personality with a radical posture of justice and rule of law, adding that, even though he looked simple and unassuming, he was very strict and consciously principled in disposition.

“He was always very warm and engaging. Like all great men, my Lord was a man of paradox: simple without being simplistic in disposition; elitist and dignified in carriage, yet he related exceptionally well with everyone around him, especially the underprivileged and the downtrodden in the society,” he added.

He noted that the entire life of Nweze was devoid of duplicity, undue arrogance and elitism, as some people often manifest once fortune smiled on them and were elevated to positions of influence and affluence.

He said, even though Nweze  was a dogged fighter for whatever cause he believed in, he was an astute advocate of the arts of mediation and reconciliation.

Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in his speech observed that the apex court was overwhelmed with workload of cases, making it one of the over-worked court in the world.

Fagbemi, who was represented by the Solicitor General of the Federal and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, stated that Nweze’s life would continue to shine as an example to all, adding that, the late Justice contributed immensely to the development of the nation’s judiciary.

The Body of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (BOSAN) represented by Mr. Damion Dodo, SAN, said Nweze distinguished himself on the Bench and had delivered qualitative judgments during his stay on the Supreme Court Bench.

President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), in his speech, said Nweze made “significant contribution to the growth of our jurisprudence.”