From Godwin Tsa, Abuja and Paul Osuyi, Asaba

The Supreme Court has confirmed the death of Justice Chima Centus Nweze.

Nweze who was appointed to the Supreme Court bench in 2014 by President Goodluck Jonathan died at 64 on Sunday.

Director of Press and Information for the apex court, Dr. Festus Akande, confirmed his passage to Daily Sun.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), former Abia State governor and senator representing Abia North, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah have described his death as shocking and a loss to the nation’s judiciary.

A native of Obollo, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Justice Nweze was until his death the fifth most senior judge among the 13 justices on the apex court. He participated in various panels that gave consequential judgements, some of which were his lead decisions.

Nwaeze is mostly remembered as the only member of the Supreme Court panel that dissented in the 2020 judgement  that sacked Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor of Imo State and replaced him with Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In his dissenting judgment, the late jurist said the Supreme Court’s judgement on the Imo State governorship election was wrong and “will continue to haunt our (Nigeria’s) electoral jurisprudence for a long time to come.”

Ironically,  in a split judgement of three-against-two, Nweze delivered the controversial judgement of the Supreme Court which declared then Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, as the authentic candidate of the APC for Yobe North Senatorial District for the 25 February general election.

The jurist, who bagged his law degree from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, in Enugu State, in 1983, was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984.

In the statement released by the National Publicity Secretary of the NBA, the association’s President, Yakubu Maikyau, said the deceased made numerous decisions that shaped, impacted and developed Nigeria’s law and jurisprudence.

“Hon. Justice Nweze was an astute and erudite jurist. His lordship’s numerous decisions have shaped, impacted and developed our law and jurisprudence. He was a disciplined, hardworking, and courageous judicial officer,” NBA said.

•His death shocking, big loss – Kalu

Extolling the virtues of the late jurist, Kalu acknowledged his contributions to the judiciary and nation building through various platforms.

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The former Senate Chief Whip stressed that the late jurist was a man of honour and dignity, whose legacies are worthy of emulation by his contemporaries in the judiciary.

In a condolence message issued, yesterday, Kalu applauded the giant strides of the late jurist in his profession.

“I commiserate with the government and people of Enugu State over the demise of Justice Chima Nweze of the Supreme Court. The late jurist was a shining light in the judiciary owing to his unbeatable attributes which he demonstrated and upheld in various capacities in his profession. He was hardworking, bold, courageous, cerebral, patriotic and dynamic in the discharge of his duties and responsibilities. The late judge made invaluable contributions to nation building in different positions. He will be remembered for his good deeds.”

Kalu urged the Nweze family to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a remarkable and purposeful life while praying for eternal rest for the jurist.

•Words alone can’t describe his place in our hearts – Mbah

GovernorMbah, in a statement he personally signed, said he was deeply pained by the loss of the appellate court justice, saying the people of Enugu State and Nigeria in general would miss his wealth of knowledge and immeasurable contributions to the development of the country’s justice system.

Describing the late justice as an epitome of humility, dedication, commitment, integrity and selflessness in the discharge of his duties, the governor condoled with his family and members of the legal profession over the irreparable loss.

“Words alone cannot describe his place in our hearts. We will continue to miss His Lordship. Our thoughts and prayers are always with his family.”

Justice Mallong

The death of Justice Peter Hoommuk Mallong of the Federal High Court was also reported dead.

Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Mr Hassan Sulaiman, said in a statement: “It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the death of our own, Hon. Justice Peter Hoommuk Mallong,a judge of the Federal High Court, who passed away on 30th July 2023 unexpectedly after a brief illness in Abuja.

“We will miss him more than words can express. Funeral arrangements will be communicated to the public in due time.”

•NBA, Kalu, Mbah pay tribute to late jurist