Justices, Eminent Nigerians Pay Glowing Tributes, as Justice Raphael Agbo is Laid to Rest
Steve Aya
On Wednesday, 4th October, 2023, at the Court of Appeal Enugu Division,President, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, through the Presiding Justice, Hon. Justice Uzo Ndukwe–Anyanwu, presided over a solemn Valedictory Court session in honour of the late Presiding Justice of Calabar Division, Hon. Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo.
Hon. Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo, was a brilliant non- controversial Jurist, billed to retire from the Bench to enjoy a more quiet life on 21st October, 2023, but died on July 4, 2023, a couple of weeks before his 70th birthday.
Born 21st October, 1953, the late quintessential Jurist got elevated to the Court Of Appeal in 2005, serving in Ibadan, and subsequently Lagos, Akure, Benin, Jos, Ilorin, Owerri and Kaduna Divisions, and until his demise, the Presiding Justice of Calabar Division.
This is the reason Justices, Judges and eminent Nigerians from all walks of life, gathered in the court hall of Enugu Division, to pay their last respect to this once-upon-a-time Jurist, described by many as thoroughly decent, humane, engaging, courteous, and a compassionate man who dispensed justice with candour and the fear of God.
Hon Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem had observed in her tribute, that in the 18 years the late Presiding Justice spent at the Intermediate Court, he proved himself to be a Jurist of uttermost decorum. Parts of Justice Dongban-Mensem’s speech reads…: “Even though Hon. Justice Agbo has transcended to the life beyond and is no more amongst us, his attributes and contributions to the development of the law will continue to radiate in our hearts’’.
“His outstanding treads in the advancement of our Jurisprudence, has no doubt helped our jurisprudence to grow”, she observed.
Other Speakers during the Valedictory Court Session were the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Enugu State, Dr Kingsley Udeh; Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Enugu Branch, Chief C.N.N Nwagbara; Chairman NBA, Obollo-Afor Branch, Mr D. O Ezeme; Chairman NBA, Nsukka Branch, Dr E. E. Okereke, among other personalities, described the late Justice Agbo as an erudite Jurist who gave his all to his nation.
In his tribute, the Attorney-General of Enugu State, had informed the gathering of the State Government’s initiative in recognition of late Justice Abgo’s pursuit of peace and conflict resolution within and outside the courtroom, hence, the naming of the ultra-modern building of the Enugu State Multi-Door Courthouse (ESMDC) after His Lordship.
In a mock Plenary during the Valedictory, an argument in support of an interlocutory Appeal by Chief C.N.N Nwagbara, sought five grounds of Motion to argue the death of Hon. Justice R.C Agbo JCA, OFR before Hon. Justices Ndukwe-Anyanwu, Hamma Barka, Joseph. O. K. Oyewole, Joseph Ekanem, and Bilkisu Aliyu.
In his homily during the Funeral Mass in honour of the late Justice at St Martin De Porres Catholic Parish, Obollo Eke on Friday, the Catholic Bishop of Awgu Diocese, Most Rev. John Okoye, urged Christians to embrace fairness and equity to build a just society, describing Justice Raphael Agbo as a man, who devoted himself to the service of God through honesty and passion for justice in all his rulings.
His Lordship left behind his amiable wife, Mrs Mabel Agbo and two children, Raphael Chimezie Agbo Jnr and Dadochi Raphael Agbo.
