Chime Mourns Late Justice Aniagolu

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has described the death of Justice Anthony Aniagolu, a retired Supreme Court Justice, as a big loss to the state and the country.

Chime said of Aniagolu, who died on June 28, that the country had lost one of its finest legal brains and patriotic public servant.

A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Chukwudi Achife and released in Enugu recently, said justice Aniagolu maintained a successful career as a legal luminary.

It quotes the governor as saying that Aniagolu had a trail-blazing record as High Court Judge, then Chief Judge of the old Anambra and as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“The late Jurist while serving on the bench delivered many landmark judgments and contributed to powerful legal opinions, which impacted positively to legal issues in the country”.

It said: “Aniagolu also served the nation diligently as Chairman of the 1989 Constituent Assembly, Chairman of several commissions and tribunals, including Kano Maitatsine Disturbances Tribunal.

The statement noted Aniagolu’s role in the creation and development of Enugu State, adding, “the government and people of the state will ever live to remember his great achievements.

“He was a colossus in all that he endeavoured and also served the nation with exemplary dedication.

“We are particularly sad because he was one of our eminent sons, who served as beacons of progress and development of the state and the Eastern Region in general.

Meanwhile, a condolence register had been opened at his residence and one of the early callers was Governor Peter Obi of Anambra, who was represented by Prof. Chinyere Okunna, a commissioner said.

He wrote, “My the soul of this Igbo man rest in peace”.

Retired Justice Anthony Iguh described Aniagolu as a paradigm of honesty.

According to him, a colossue is gone to be with the lord, may his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Rev. Dr Calistus Onega, said, “May the soul of our father justice Aniagolu’s faith rest in peace”.

Dr Chistian Anike, a reverend father  and vice-chancellor, Godfrey Okoye University wrote, “May the good Lord reward you in Heaven for your sacrifices on earth”.