By Ayodele Oni
Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has said that the sudden demise of the Supreme Court Justice, Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta, has created a big vacuum in the nation’s judiciary.
Bamidele, a legal practitioner, representing Ekiti central at the red chamber, pointed out that Justice Ngwuta rising from the cradle of judiciary to the pinnacle of the judicial hierarchy confirmed the sacrifices he made for the judiciary to garner strength that could serve as a bulwalk and fulcrum for the nation’s fledging democracy .
Justice Ngwuta died on March 7, 2021, at the National Hospital, Abuja, where he was on admission for a week. He died barely 23 days to his 70th birthday and retirement age .
Bemoaning the demise of the quintessential Jurist in his condolence message to the deceased’s family, Bamidele said the nation had with this death missed one of the committed and dependable members of the bench whose contributions were immeasurable, in that arm of government.
He saluted the industry of the deceased in making the nation’s judiciary a cynosure of all eyes, not only in Africa, but globally.
“The sudden death of Justice Sylvester Ngwuta was a painful one, particularly coming few days to his retirement.
“He was one of the few eggheads of the bench who delivered judgements that served the purpose of humanity and building of a nation free of undue interferences in the administration of justice.
“From a small Law practice, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta began his Law career in 1978 as a State counsel in Benue State Ministry of justice, the same year he established his own law firm. He rose steadily from this point to the Zenith of his career, which he did in the most dignifying fashion
“On October 1995, he was appointed a Judge of the Abia State High Court. On 22 May 2011, he was appointed to the bench of the Nigerian courts of appeal and on May 2013, he was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as Justice.
“This death has created a big vacuum that will be difficult to bridge in the history of the nation’s judiciary.
“I sympathise with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Mohammed, the Ngwuta family and the entire Bench and the Bar on the departure of this judicial Icon.
“May the good Lord grant his soul eternal rest and grant the family and the entire nation the fortitude to bear the painful loss”.
