ABUJA – The Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to immortalise the late Supreme Court judge, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa who died on May 1.
This followed a motion by Sen. Hope Uzodinma (PDP-Imo) on the demise of Justice Oputa at the age of 90.
Uzodinma observed that Oputa served the country with diligence and his death was a huge loss to the entire country.
“Oputa was one of Nigeria’s finest legal icons who served the country diligently in many capacities even before the attainment of independence.
“His judicial career spanned 36 years through four regions, states and territories until his retirement from the Supreme Court in 1989.
“His exploits in the Supreme Court earned him the name Socrates of the Supreme Court’. His judgments were a compendium of well researched and deep philosophical thinking,” he said.
The Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP-Cross River) described the late legal icon as moral beacon to the nation.
“Apart from being a legal icon, he remained a national moral beacon and he can never be forgotten because his judgments are indelible.”
Sen. Chris Ngige (APC-Anambra) urged the senate to undertake necessary legislative action to ensure the late legal luminary was immortalised by the Federal Government.
“This senate should make a strong case for him (Oputa) to be immortalised because this is a man who has left indelible footmarks in the annals of history.
In his tribute, Sen. Ita Enang (PDP-Akwa Ibom) said the late Oputa belonged to the golden era of the Nigerian judiciary.
“This is one of the greatest brains of the Nigerian judiciary. He was a liberal man in the management and running of his family.”
The Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu noted that Oputa deserved the honour being bestowed upon him by the Senate despite the fact that he was not a member of any parliament.
“God blessed him with a long life and he served his country well. He deserves the special tributes being accorded him by the senators.
“It is only in few moments that the senate finds time to pay tribute to one that was not a senator, a parliamentarian in any way and this is one of such moments.
The senate observed a minute silence in honour of Justice Oputa and resolved to send a high powered delegation to commiserate with the family, people and government of Imo State at the burial.
Similarly, the Senate on Tuesday resolved to send a delegation to condole with the family of the late deputy Senate President, Sen. Wash Pam who died on May 1, 2014.
Pam served as Deputy Senate President from 1979 to 1983 under the alliance between the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP)
Sen. Victor Lar (PDP-Plateau) observed that Pam “brought respectability and honour to the office of the Deputy Senate President”.
Sen. Uche Chukwumerije (PDP-Abia) urged Nigerian leaders to tap into the legacies of the late Sen Pam for the promotion of peace and unity across the country.
“Pam showed that there were more values uniting us that we could tap into to become a greater nation where peace reigned supreme.
Ekweremadu said the senators should imbibe the patriotic zeal of Pam for the peaceful coexistence of the people.
“The lesson from Pam’s life, is for us in the senate to see ourselves as patriots and our political affiliations should no longer be our motivation.
“As we mourn Pam, the best we can do for hi is to seek peace and harmony in our states,” he added. (NAN)
