A civil advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), yesterday, joined friends and family in rejoicing with Justice Emmanuel Ogwuegbu, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on his 90th birthday, describing him as humble, simple. , not arrogant, tough and deeply religious.
Justice Ogwuegbu started as a judge, rose steadily through the ranks – high court and then to the Supreme Court and left an imprint that will remain indelible in the sands of time.
He made outstanding contributions to the apex court and, indeed, Nigerian jurisprudence in general.
Eulogizing the renowned Jurist, HURIWA in a statement signed by the National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, celebrated the grace of God upon him and his many years of service, with many achievements, especially in the courts.
According to HURIWA, Justice Ogwuegbu is working hard behind the scenes to uphold justice at the highest court in the land.
“When he did not give the main decision, he agreed or disagreed. In the lead judgment delivered on May 29, 1998, in the celebrated criminal case between Sunday Effiong (petitioner) and the State (respondent), Judge Ogwuegbu showed the things he made.
He said: “Also, agreeing with a panel of seven judges on Friday, April 5, 2002, in the case between the Attorney General of the Federation and the Attorney General of Abia State and 35 others on derivation palaver, Justice Onwuegbu concurred with the decision of the lead judgment that the Federal Government should calculate the origin based on the low water mark.
This is a dispute between the Federal Government, on the one hand, and the eight coastal states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and River, on the other, to the south (or seaward). ) the borders of each of these countries.
Onwubiko prayed for the health and sanity of the retired jurist, who bowed out of the Supreme Court on Friday, March 16, 2003, at the age of 70.