Supreme Court Justice Dies 24 Days Before Retirement

A Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, died, yesterday, barely 24 days to his retirement from the bench of the apex court.
According to a statement from the apex court, the late Justice died around 2.30am, yesterday.
The statement, signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mrs Hadiza Mustapha, disclosed that late Ngwuta died after a brief illness.
Mustapha, however, noted that the late Justice’s sickness was not connected to the novel Coronavirus.
“The Supreme Court of Nigeria regrets to announce the death of the Hon. Mr. Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, JSC, CFR, by 2.30am of Sunday, March 7, 2021.
“He felt sick and was admitted in the last one week in the National Hospital, Abuja, but before he was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital on Friday, March 5, he tested negative to Covid-19 investigative test conducted on him”, the statement read.
Ngwuta was due to retire from the Supreme Court bench on attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years on March 30, 2021.
His remains, according to the statement, have been deposited in the National Hospital mortuary pending arrangement for his burial.
Ngwuta, who was appointed Supreme Court Justice on March 22, 2011, was born on March 30, 1951 in Amofia-Ukawu, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
He had his basic education in the Eastern part of Nigeria, and got his LLB at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), lle-ife in 1977, and BL at the Nigerian Law School in 1978.
The senior lawyer commenced his private legal practice at Abakaliki from July, 1978 to October, 1995.
Ugwuta was later appointed a judge of the High Court, Abia State in October, 1995, and then, promoted to the Court of Appeal on May 22, 2003.
The deceased was finally sworn-in as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in May, 2011.
Ngwuta was the chairman of the judicial panel of inquiry into the Obegu Enyibichirikwo Disturbances in 1997-1998, and has been a member of several Governorship and Legislative House Election Petition Tribunals; including the ones in Nasarawa State held at Lafia in February, 1999, National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Plateau State, held at Jos in April, 1999, among others.
The Federal Government had in 2018 accused the senior judge of corrupt practices.
An Abuja Federal High Court, however, absolved Ngwuta of all allegations.
The court had pointed out that the prosecution in Ngwuta’s case failed to comply with the conditions precedent before bringing charges against a judicial officer.
The apex court, however, prayed God to grant the soul of late Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta rest in perfect peace and help his family, the Judiciary and the Supreme Court to bear the irreparable loss.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family and friends of Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta.
The Supreme Court Justice passed away early hours of yesterday in Abuja.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the President joins people and government of Ebonyi State, Nigerian Bar Association and members of the Bench in mourning the legal luminary.
The President regretted that the death of the eminent Justice will leave a gap in the Supreme Court, “considering his experience and dedication to interpretation of the Constitution.”
Shehu said that Buhari believes Justice Ngwuta lived and served the country with his knowledge of the law.
Hr prayed that the Almighty God will accept the soul of the departed, and comfort his family.