Resist Acts Capable of Destroying Nigeria’s Judicial System As Last Hope of Common Man – Gov Soludo To Judges, Lawyers 

By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
Anambra’ state governor, Prof. Charles Soludo has cautioned judges, the bar and other judicial officers on the dangers of destroying the country’s justice system which has for ages been reputed as the healing balm and hope of the common man.

He said the judges at all levels and wheel of the judicial system must help to advance the cause of Nigeria’s history, adding that the country doesn’t need any help as the judiciary remains the hope of the oppressed.

Soludo stated this in his speech during the ceremony to mark the 88th birthday anniversary of former Chief of the state Justice Godwin Ude Ononiba, presentation of his book with the title, ‘Wisdom On the Bench’ and commemoration of his life of service, wisdom and distinction held weekend (Saturday) in Awka the state capital.

This is as creme de la creme of eminent personalities drawn from across the state and the country extolled the virtues and contributions of the legal luminary, Justice Ononiba.

While acknowledging that the judiciary saves but destroys more, the governor called on lawyers to hold fast to the virtues of ensuring the dispensation of an enduring justice system for the good of the nation and the society at large.

The judiciary, from the wisdom on the bench according to him, will give us the midgets to advancing the cause of our history because Nigeria doesn’t need any help and the judiciary, everybody said it’s the hope of the common man. It is; you leave and sometimes you kill some. But you save more than you kill. And we have to plead with you more so that you save more and the killing therein so that Nigeria will continue to triumph because without the judiciary I don’t know where we would have been in this country for now.”

“The politicians want to pavert everything and they think everything is fixable but the judiciary continues to remind us not too fast. I want tell the judiciary to hold form to your virtues and hold tight to the rope.”

He noted that Anambra has made outstanding contributions through the hard work of array of notable judges and lawyers after Lagos State but advised them to ratch it up their efforts with unbiased and courageous steps to rid the state of activities of fake native doctors, Okeite and Ezenwanyi as well as other voodoo practitioners who have negatively contributed in the crime wave in the state.

He said that, “Its better we celebrate people when they are alive than writing magnificent tributes when they are dead. We celebrate them today, tomorrow and celebrate them always. Secondly, while celebrating the celebrant, particularly, for having the presence of mine and finding time even at this age to be able to write this quintessential book; I was slipping through to read about his conversation with Justice Aniagolu and people telling him about juju and, no juju and why he should run out of the country.”

“That tells you I am already captivated by this bood and I am going to take interest in reading particularly those personal testimonies that actually brought him to where he is today. The aspect pertaining to the law, the judgment and so on, I leave them to the Chief Judge and learned justices and lawyers here.”

“I celebrate you for that because really many people after service fail to out down something reflecting their experiences, personal and professional so that the people following behind can now learn. That often is the difference between our people and people we are trying to be like, that’s the industrialized and advanced societies.”

“People write their memoirs particularly for this society that I describe as the limited edition generation. They have not just left us, they are living institutions. When you say Justice Ononiba or mental. Justice Iguh and their ilk of that generation: they represent almost. We haven’t come to celebrate individuals or an individual but an institution called Justice Ononiba,” he said.

Soludo later doled out N25 million being the worth of 150 copies of the book which he described as a quintessential and captivating masterpiece.

He said the celebrant and renowned jurists belongs to the limited generation even as he hailed the outstanding contributions and service to the country, stressing that they should be celebrated while alive than when they are dead.

About 16 serving and retired Chief justices from Anambraand Enugu states; over Senior Advocates, senior Lawyers, elder statesmen, captains of industries, dance troupes, special choristers, traditional rulers, friends and well wishes as well as associates graces the colourful event amid fun fare, glitz and glamour.

A renowned jurist, Professor Elpchukwu Amaucheazi bemoaned that precarious challenges facing the country’s judiciary, describing it as a sad commentary to both judges, lawyers and the larger society.

According to him, ” I am aware of the challenges facing us; we are passing through a stage. We are not happy with what is happening in Nigeria. We will join the battle against what is happening, we will not shy away from it.”

Justice Zoba of Enugu State in her speech describes the celebrant as, “an impeccable judge and mentor who left indelible mark in the judiciary with unwavering dedication in uplifting the sanctity of the justice system which played a pivotal role that elicits great inspiration.”

The book reviewer and former Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka, Professor Ilochi Okafor said the 625 page intellectual work reminds all of the glorious days of the judiciary with its style and language devoid of unnecessary expressions.

He concluded that the 14 chapter book divided into 13 parts x-rays the lives, career and other activities of the Onowu of Nimo as globe throttled between 1999-2002, even as he predicted a sudden change in the country’s judiciary.

He urged young lawyers to sharpen their skills in order to meet the current challenges.

Earlier, chairman of the occasion and retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Anthony Iguh described the celebrant as a long standing friend who has cut his teeth in the legal profession and has left indelible footprints on the sand of time.