ADDRESS  BY THE  GENERAL  SECRETARY  OF  THE  NIGERIAN  BAR  ASSOCIATION (“NBA”), MRS. JOYCE ODUAH, FICMC AT THE VALEDICTORY COURT SESSION IN HONOUR OF THE LATE HONOURABLE JUSTICE JUDE O. OKEKE OF THE HIGH COURT OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA ON 24TH SEPTEMBER 2020

 

PROTOCOLS

My Lords, the Chief Judge of Anambra State High Court and other Judges present,

  1. We are gathered here today, 24th September 2020, to celebrate the life of a distinguished jurist, the Late Honourable Justice Jude O. Okeke, who left us suddenly on Tuesday, 04 August 2020, without farewell, at the age of 64. Until his death, His Lordship was the ninth (9th) most senior Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. He was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on 4th April 2007, and His Lordship served the Nigerian Judiciary for 13 years. As a Judge, His Lordship served with boundless dedication, uprightness, incorruptibility, utmost humility and commitment. The Late Hon. Justice Jude Okeke was a Judge with a high level of integrity and honour. He was an epitome of hope to the common man and an inspiration to many persons. Indeed, the demise of Honourable Justice Jude O. Okeke has robbed the entire Nigerian Judiciary and of course, the legal profession of one of Nigeria’s finest and brightest jurists. His Lordship was a complete gentleman and a detribalized Nigerian, who served this Nation selflessly and diligently on the Bench. His Lordship’s judicial pronouncements which are  remarkable, buttress the late jurist’s profound intellectual fecundity, sense of justice, erudition, diligence and fearlessness.

 

  1. Before his Lordship’s elevation to the Bench, His Lordship served in other capacities as a private legal practioner. His Lordship was elected as the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch. His Lordship was a committed and active member of the Nigerian Bar Association, and was a voice to the voiceless. Throughout His Lordship’s life time, he exhibited deep sense of justice and genuine love for humanity. His Lordship was an indefatigable promoter and protector of the rule of law, justice, human rights and good governance at all times.

 

  1. A brief examination of the life and career of the Late Honourable Justice Jude O. Okeke will disclose that His Lordship exemplified excellence as can be gleaned from his outstanding educational and professional background. Historically, His Lordship attended St. Michael’s Primary School, Fegge, Onitsha, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1972. He attended Christ the King College, Onitsha, where he obtained his SSCE in 1978. He studied Law in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Enugu Campus) between 1979 and 1984, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1985. He started his professional career at Okeke & Okeke-Izuagwu & Associates at Onitsha, where he later became the Principal Partner of Okeke & Okeke, Abuja Branch, between 1993 and 2007.

 

  1. As His Lordship’s body gets interred tomorrow, Friday, 25th September 2020, at his country home (Umusiome Village, Nkpor-Uno, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State) the Nigerian  Bar  Association  deeply  mourns His  Lordship  and  condoles His  Lordship’s immediate and extended family as well as the entire Nigerian Judiciary, the people of Anambra State and indeed Nigerians as a whole. May His Lordship’s soul continue to rest in peace.Amen!

 

JOYCE ODUAH, FICMC

General Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association.

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