The late Justice Justice Emmanuel Obioma Ogwuegbu, left, and Governor Hope-Uzodimma

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has described the late Supreme Court Justice Emmanuel Obioma Ogwuegbu as one of Nigeria’s greatest and brightest legal minds who impacted the society so much that it will be difficult to forget him.

The Governor said that the late Justice Ogwuegbu is an embodiment of courage, discipline, integrity, and a jurist with an uncommon brilliance in the  l50 years of his remarkable career.

The Governor spoke on Saturday at the funeral Mass of the late Justice Ogwuegbu at St. Theresa Chibugwumba Catholic Parish, Amainyi, Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State, where tributes also poured in from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,  his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Supreme Court, the Federal High Court, the National Assembly, Governors and other key figures from the country.

While President Tinubu commended Justice Ogwuegbu’s “unwavering commitment to justice, integrity, and rule of law,” Vice President Shettima noted that the late legal icon was not just a jurist, but a “pillar of integrity and a beacon of justice whose work and contributions have left indelible mark on Nigeria’s evolving tradition of jurisprudence.”

Governor Uzodimma said that Justice Ogwuegbu did not just make Imo State where he issued from proud in all the assignments given to him, but served Nigeria and the world creditably, and by extension, served humanity and God.

Governor Uzodimma noted that Justice Ogwuegbu wrote his name in granite across the land scape of the Nigerian legal system, serving in the Supreme Court for many years and participating in landmark judgments on sensitive matters such as federalism, university autonomy, human rights, and banking regulations and acquitting himself credibly.

The Governor insisted that everyone is in agreement that Justice Ogwuegbu gave priority to his good name, above primitive acquisition of material things, a quality which is in short supply amongst today’s public servants.

Governor Uzodimma’s remarks read in full:

“Today, we have come to bid a final farewell to a great son of Nigeria of Imo State extraction. We have come to mourn one of the greatest and brightest legal minds that passed through our shores. We have come to pay deserving tributes to Justice Emmanuel Ogwuegbu, a jurist whose trademark was courage, integrity, and discipline.

“When it is said that a man lived a fulfilled life, it means that he did his duties to God and humanity to the best of his ability. When we say that a good name is better than riches, we have in mind what will be said about us when we finally depart this planet.

” As we gather here today to commit the remains of our illustrious brother, father, and grandfather, Justice Emmanuel Obioma Ogwuegbu, to his final resting place, all of us are agreed that he lived a fulfilled life and prioritised a good name over the acquisition of material wealth.

“Justice Emmanuel Obioma Ogwuegbu wrote his name in granite across the landscape of the Nigerian legal system.

His footprints remain indelible in our jurisprudence.

“Over two decades after he gracefully bowed out from the bench, his judgments still illuminate our courts. From the Borno High Court, where he sentenced the appellant Effiong, to landmark rulings on derivation and local government autonomy, his voice shaped constitutional jurisprudence. Each ruling bore his trademark clarity, precision, and moral courage.

“When our apex court faced complex questions on federalism, resource control, and democratic governance, they found in Ogwuegbu a voice of unflinching principle. His dissents proved as influential as his concurrences.

“As the Holy Scripture reminds us, “There is a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.” Today, we mourn. Yet simultaneously, we express our deepest gratitude that such a man lived among us and that such wisdom guided our jurisprudence.

“It is, therefore, not surprising that ever since his passing, tributes upon tributes have poured in, eulogising his life of service and total commitment to justice. From President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to the least man in Amanyi, Nigerians have celebrated this jurist as an upright man whose integrity remains undented. It is for this reason that I stand here to celebrate Justice Emmanuel Obioma Ogwuegbu.

“This great son of Imo State reached the pinnacle of his career as a judge. He served in the Supreme Court for many years and participated in landmark judgments on sensitive matters such as federalism, university autonomy, human rights, and banking regulations. In all these, he acquitted himself creditably. For that reason, we also celebrate him.

“We also celebrate him for hoisting high the flag of Imo State when, in 1999, he was appointed Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which investigated human rights abuses during the military regime. Yes, in the 50 years of his remarkable career, Justice Ogwuegbu embodied integrity and uncommon brilliance.

“I am indeed proud to say that this was a man synonymous with discipline, dedication, excellence, and honesty, a man who used the legal profession to serve both God and humanity.

“When we examine the life and service of this great jurist, including his time as President of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, one thing that stood out was patriotism. He loved Nigeria, he loved Imo State, and he loved his home and family.

“When I look around and behold his children, including a member of the Imo State Executive Council, I see a man who excelled in every area of human endeavour.

“His life is now a challenge not only to his immediate family but also to the people of Imo State. He has left a legacy of integrity and service, values now in short supply in our society. The only way we can truly immortalise him is by living out those values for the good of society.

“On behalf of my family, the government, and the good people of Imo State, I sincerely condole with his immediate family on the loss of this great son of Imo State.

“May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, continue to rest in peace.”

Earlier in his homily, Very Rev Fr. Chibuike Uke described the deceased as great mentor who denied himself a lot of comfort to bring up younger ones and challenged those in leadership positions to be good mentors to many youths for the good of society.

He lauded Justice Ogwuegbu for living a life worthy of emulation and urged the faithful and the guests to work hard to ensure that when they exit this earth, the Almighty God will prepare a banquet for them in paradise.

The Catholic Bishop of Okigwe Diocese, Most Rev Dr. Solomon Amatu was ably represented by his Vicar One, Monsignor John Iwe.

One of the sons of the deceased, Dr. Emeka Ogwuegbu, who paid tribute to his father on behalf of his family in his remark,s described him as a legal luminary par excellence and a national icon and a community leader who demonstrated exemplary leadership.

He added that his late father led a fulfilled and exemplary life of great virtues and rare qualities of integrity, humility, fairness, equity and justice.

Justice Ogwuegbu died at the ripe age of 91 years.

The funeral ceremony was attended by many dignitaries within and outside Imo State.