The death of eminent jurist and Justice of the Supreme Court, Chukwudifu Oputa (rtd), has been described as a colossal loss by some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) amid the outpouring of eulogies for the departed legal icon.
Most remembered for his role as chairman of the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (HRVIC) otherwise known as the Oputa Panel constituted by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 1999, Justice Oputa’s philosophical depth was revered by many even as his contributions to the course of law and the judiciary in Nigeria cannot be overstated.
To some, he was the “Socrates of the Supreme Court” while to others, he was Nigeria’s own ‘Lord Denning’ during an era that was regarded as the golden era.
Six lawyers, including former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) National President, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), Chief Funke Adekoya (SAN), Mr. Taiwo Oyetibo (SAN) and a human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) have eulogised the late legal icon, saying that he would be remembered for his landmark judgments.
Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) said the late Justice Oputa was known for his philosophical reasoning.
“Oh my God! That was the Socrates of the Supreme Court! He did not only understand the law as a justice of the Supreme Court, he applied the philosophy of law.
“His reasons for his judgments were often illuminating. He made law look like mathematics. He was the original source of the expression that justice is a three-way traffic – justice to the accused, justice to the victim and justice to the public.
“I enjoyed reporting his judgments when I was a law reporter. The Bar and Bench and the public would miss him”.
Ojo said, “He was an iconoclast of humanity, the Socrates of our time and one of the finest breed of jurisprudence and a commitment to justice. His death is indeed the drawing of the curtain on an era in the justice sector that generations after would forever long for. He belonged to the ages, his memories are naturally bound to be immortal. We shall all surely miss him”.
For Falana, “Owing to his prodigious grounding in philosophy, he was referred to by his learned brethren as the Socrates of the Supreme Court. His commitment to social justice was unparalleled. At a time in the 1980s the jurist allied with Justice Kayode Eso and Justice Andrew Obaseki to form a trinity of judicial activists who mobilised the Supreme Court to grant justice to all classes of people even if the heaven would fall.
“The greatest tribute that can be paid to Justice Oputa is for the Federal Government to release the report of the Oputa Panel and proceed to implement the recommendations of the panel. For the legal profession, Justice Oputa should be celebrated for his incorruptibility and consistent defence of human rights, rule of law and democracy.”
Adekoya said, “The Bar has lost another of its icons, our own Lord Denning. He was one of the greatest philosopher judges Nigeria has produced, and his judgments always displayed an interplay between law and morality. He has gone to rest, but remains with us through his judgments and legal writings.”
For Akeredolu, his reaction simply went thus: “God gave us this legal icon. God has taken him away. May God be praised”.
Pedro in his reaction said: “Justice Oputa was a great jurist of our time. From his decisions in the apex court, judges and counsel have drawn inspiration and strength for future decisions and judgments in like or similar cases.
“Though he has long retired and now dead, his judicial pronouncements remain with us as a guide. May his gentle soul rest in peace”.
