St. Gregory Old Boys Pay Condolence Visit to Legal Icon, Nwokedi’s Family

Wale Igbintade

A delegation of St. Gregory’s College Old Boys Association (SGCOBA) has paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Uche Nwokedi, SAN, who died on June 28, 2024, in London at the aged of 64.

The delegation, led by a former President of the Association, Dr. John Abebe, was received by the wife of the late legal icon, Mrs. Winifred Olubunmi Nwokedi at their residence in Ikoyi Lagos.

The delegation described the demise of the late Nwokedi as a great loss, not just to the association and the Nwokedi’s family, but also to the legal community.

Consoling the family, Dr. Abebe said the late Nwokedi’s earthly sojourn, was impactful and that he left an indelible mark on humanity.

He said the association cannot forget the legacies the late Nwokedi laid down, adding that he was the one that drafted a modern Constitution for the St. Gregory’s College Old Boys Association.

Besides, Abebe lauded Nwokedi’s towering stature as a luminary in Nigeria’s legal landscape, acknowledging his unwavering dedication to advancing justice, upholding the rule of law, and fortifying the oil and gas industry.

Dr. Abebe said even though Nwokedi was his junior by many years in St. Gregory’s College, he turned out to be one of the closest people to him right from when they first met almost 40 years ago. 

He said: “Uche has proven to be very, very reliable, honest, godly in everything that he was exposed to and that was what really impressed me about him.  

“His ability to multitask, to combine a lot of positive attributes he had in life without showing any stress or just going about them quietly with a smile on his face was something I really admired.

“There was one occasion we were together, and I said to him, look, I’ve not seen you put a foot wrong all these years. He was a fantastic, brilliant human being and I am happy him and I crossed path in this world. And I am delighted that he left behind a very good humble family, his wife and children and I pray that God will rest his soul.

“May the heavens welcome the soul of my brother with the same generosity and kindness he bestowed upon humanity throughout the years.”

Speaking, the current President of the association, Justice Adetokunbo Ademola (rtd) described the late Nwokedi as a very thorough person, brilliant, very unassuming, and highly principled.

He said: “Our great Uche, was very easy going, like I mentioned earlier in my short tribute to him with his family, he was a very thorough person, erudite lawyer, and highly principled just like his father, the late Justice  P. K Nwokedi, of the Supreme Court.

“Uche didn’t meet me in Gregs, but I saw more of him when I was on the Bench, of the Federal High Court before I retired. Uche was somebody who was very knowledgeable. He took very much the steps of his dad, the late Justice  P.K Nwokedi, of blessed memory.

“The late Uche was a very principled person, and we missed him a lot. He was very, very active in the association, in the Catholic Church, as well as in the Arts. May his soul rest in peace.”

In response, Mrs. Winifred Nwokedi appreciated the delegation for sparing time to offer condolences.

Other members of St. Gregory’s College Old Boys Association in the delegation are an ex- officio of the association, Mr. Kenneth Oboh, a former Secretary General, Mr. Abiola Sapporo, and the 1st Vice President of the association, Mr. Tony Eppelle.

The late Uche Nwokedi SAN was an oil and gas lawyer, playwright and author.

He was the son of the Former Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice PK Nwokedi from Achalla in Anambra.

Mr. Nwokedi left behind his loving wife and three children.