Monday 5 May 2014

Justice Oputa Dies @ 96

 Former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa

A former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, died on Sunday at age 96. He died of a stroke-related ailment.


A son of the departed jurist and musician, Mr. Charles Oputa (aka Charly Boy), confirmed the death of his father in a statement.

“The Family of Justice Chukwudifu Oputa wishes to announce the passing to glory of the eminent jurist and a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria at the age of 96 years. He passed on peacefully on Sunday afternoon (May 4, 2014) after recovering from a brief illness. Funeral announcements will soon be released by the family,” Charles’ statement read.

Oputa, before his death, had been absent from public functions in recent years due to ill health.

According to Charly Boy, his father had been rushed from the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri to a specialist hospital in Enugu, as he was suffering from a partial stroke.

A few weeks after, Charly Boy was back on air and social media to solicit prayer for the survival of the venerable old man since his condition was not improving.

But on Sunday, the sun finally set on the great man, leaving apostles of a sane, bold and consistently just legal system to grapple with the fact that the giant eagle had flown away from the iroko tree.

Indeed, with the passage of the legal luminary, Nigeria has lost one of its most influential justices in history.

Like a few other members of his generation, Oputa was an embodiment of knowledge, native intelligence and patriotism.

Rest In Peace Pa Oputa!

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