Eulogies for Oputa

Members of the Nigerian Bar have continued to honour and pay tributes to Former Supreme Court Judge, the Late Justice Chukwidifu Oputa (Rtd), who passed on over the weekend in Abuja.

In a statement to the media, his son Charles Oputa confirmed his passing, “The family of Justice Chukwudifu Oputa wishes to announce the passing to glory of the eminent jurist and retired justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria at the age of 90 years. He passed on peacefully on Sunday afternoon 4th May 2014 after recovering from a brief illness. Funeral arrangements will soon be released by the family.”

Amongst Senior Advocates who have paid tributes to this highly revered lawyer and legal icon are the President of the Nigerian bar, Okey Wali, SAN, Austine Alegeh, SAN and Funke Adekoya, SAN.

“The Bar has lost another of its icons, our own Lord Denning. He was one of the greatest philosopher-judges Nigeria has produced, and his judgments always displayed an interplay between law and morality. He has gone to rest, but remains with us with us through his judgments and legal writings,” Adekoya said.

Austine Alegeh, SAN in reverence to Oputa offered these revered words, ‎”The loss of Honourable Justice Oputa is indeed sad. The legal profession and the nation has lost an erudite jurist; one of the best in our recent history. His incisive and illuminating judgments will remain a strong testimony to his service to the legal profession. A true legal colossus has rested. We join in praying for the repose of his soul and pray to God to comfort and provide for all he left behind.”

Speaking for the Bar, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Okey Wali, SAN condoned with the family, offering tributes to the late legal giant. 

He said, “Late Hon. Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa, JSC, was famously described by the Bar and the Bench as the Socrates of the Nigerian legal Profession.  He did not only bestride the legal firmament of Nigeria like a colossus, but he also exhibited impeccable character, integrity, learning and professionalism.  He was indeed one of the best legal minds the Nigerian Legal Profession has ever produced.  The Legal Profession and the nation have lost a rare gem.

“On behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association, I hereby give our condolences to the Judiciary and his family, while praying for the repose of his soul, and also pray that God will give the family, the Bench and the Bar, the fortitude to bear the loss,” Wali said.

In the same vein, the Social Media has been rife with reactions and eulogies for the late sage. Below are a few words of praises offered by the public on social media.

•EDIDIONG USUNGURUA 

In the legal circus, we referred to him as the ‘Socrates of the supreme court’ . In his days at the apex court, his judgments were not only legally sound but very thought provoking. He had a good command of diction and would sometimes sound so poetic in his holdings. In this regard, he shared the same attributes with the like of Kayode Eso, Achike! Karibi white et al. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

•MARCELLINUS DURU

Here again goes another of the rarest gems. A legal luminary, a first class philosopher and humanist. Truly, he was The Lord Denning of Nigeria. Pick up any of his judgments and you will marvel at the depth and flow of his reasoning. He is a delight to read any time. He has left his bold foot prints of the sands of time. He will be truly missed.

May his gentle soul rest in peace and may the good lord grant his family and the broader community the fortitude to bear this loss. Amen.

•CHIKE AFANNA

He will certainly be remembered for many noble legal opinions and remarkable “judicial panel” sittings.