By Felix Kuyinu
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba has paid tribute to a deceased judicial magnate, Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, eulogizing his efforts in the quest for greater heights in the country’s legal system.
Justice Alogba said that Nigerians would have been enjoying better days if they had listened to the lawyer on how to move the country forward.
He stated this on Friday in Ikeja, Lagos at a valedictory court session in honour of the late legal luminary.
Justice Alogba, at the event, reminisced the indefatigable contributions of Prof Nwabueze to constitutional law in Nigeria, noting that such workrate should be seen as footprint for life benchers and aspiring lawyers to emulate.
Alogba, who noted Nwabueze as a fuffiled man whose efforts in the legal system and ideas were regrettably unconsidered said : “ We are gathered here to honour a man whose name must not be missed when we talk about constitutional law in Nigeria in any compendium. Such compendium will not only be incomplete but grossly inadequate.
“He was a Nigerian who if he had been listened to among other Nigerians, we would probably be enjoying better days by now.“
Alogba continued saying, “But for a man that spent his entire life trying to erect a solid foundation for enduring positive change in Nigeria, he also died a sad man because the country failed to live up to it’s promises in his lifetime. Try as hard as he did, Nigeria proved to be an illness that defiled all medications and the great man voices his disappointment.”
Also awashing praises for Nwabueze’s sage and intellectual contributions to constitutional law in the country, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, President, Yakubu Maikyau said that Prof Nwabueze was a role model to many lawyers and that his influence goes beyond the shores of Nigeria.
Maiyaku hinted that, though, Nwabueze is no more, he continues to be alive through his numerous works and publications. He recommended that his stocks of books in law firm libraries should be used as a standard for the award of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, title.
He opined, “Prof Nwabueze’s death has left a vacuum to large to fill. He was an indisputable authority on constitutional law in Nigeria and his influence reaches beyond the shores of Nigeria. He was a true patriot in every sense of the word. Though gone, he will continue to be alive through his numerous works. For his rich intellectual work, I recommend that law firm libraries stock of his book should be a vital criteria for the award of the SAN title.”
Speaking on behalf of the Body of Senior Advocates, BOSAN, Chief Solomon Asemota, SAN, noted that the voice of Prof Nwabueze will be missed in the discuss of sacrosant issues in the country.
Reacting to the tributes, the deceased son, Eni Nwabueze said his family is comforted by the outpour of tribute on his father.
“I am grateful to the Lagos State Judiciary for the honour done to my late father. My family takes comfort in the heartfelt outpour of tributes here today. We are grateful,” he said.
