A former Attorney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi, SAN, has congratulated Hon Justice Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji on his elevation to the bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Agabi, in a tribute as Chairman of a ceremony organized by the 84 Class of Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, (UNN) to celebrate the elevation, said it was possible due to intelligence, honesty, patience and resilience of the Hon Justice Oseji

“Congratulations, Justice Oseji. Your patience has paid off. Your honesty has paid off. Your resilience has paid off. Your intelligence and devotion have paid off. And so has your humility. You have been calm and devoted and now you can testify that the Lord, He is God. Therefore we join you in giving thanks to the Lord who has been with you in every trouble. We join you in thanking Him who has never left you unsatisfied. We join you in thanking the Lord who from the beginning has been sufficient, who renews your strength and who will see you through to the end as you embark on this monumental assignment.”

The ceremony held on Sunday 13th of December at Transcorp Hilton (Niger – Plateau Halls). Agabi likened the elevation of Hon. Justice Oseji to the story of a slave who converted his master to prayer warrior

He said, “The story is told of a certain slave whose master hated him because he prayed too much. When the slave would not give up praying his master decided to sell him off. His new master purchased him because he thought he could beat prayer out of the slave. It turned out that no matter how much the slave was beaten, he went on praying. In fact, the more the slave was beaten, the more he prayed. One day the master became desperately sick and felt the need for prayers. But he did not know how to pray. His wife did not know how to pray. His children did not know how to pray. None of his friends knew how to pray. The only man in the entire vicinity who knew how to pray was the slave. When called upon to do so he prayed for his master and he recovered. In this way the slave converted his master to prayer.”

He said judges and Justices are like that slave. They work so hard and are so patient and resilient. “You are so consumed by work that you do not have a life of your own. In spite of all that, you are not appreciated. Nevertheless you continue to serve. You serve without stinting in spite of our ingratitude. Go on serving, my Lords. You will soon bring the nation over to the side of truth and justice and excellence. In celebrating Justice Oseji we celebrate you all. We honour you all. Our gratitude to him is our gratitude to you all. I have always said and I now reiterate that our duty of respect for the judiciary is unqualified. We are not allowed to sit in judgment over our judges.” he said

Furthermore, Agabi said service pays and elevation of Justice Oseji from Magistrate Bench to Supreme Court clearly demonstrates it.

He added that names are significant. He said the elevation is not surprising because the Justice bears the name Samuel who was great in the Bible. He said his other name, Chukwudumebi, has helped him as well

“This ceremony cannot sufficiently express our gratitude to you, Justice Oseji, for all your sacrifices. There is little that the nation can do to compensate our judges for their sacrifices. Your consolation lies in the fact that had you not made the sacrifices that you have made and continue to make our country would long since have perished. Your consolation lies in the fact that it is the Lord that you serve. At the appropriate time he will reward you. If he does not pay you in gold, he will pay you in silver. And if he does not pay you in silver he will pay you in diamond. Justice Oseji, the Lord paid you in gold, silver and diamond when he elevated you from the magisterial bench to the Supreme Court. And that in itself is proof that there is room for merit in our country. There is room for truth in the nation. There is room and there has always been room for justice. We are therefore challenged to do our best and be positive.

“Our names are instructive. And so is the name Samuel. Samuel goes down as the greatest of the prophets. As a child he was brought up in the temple. We are not surprised therefore that you, Justice Oseji have all your life made your sacrifices in the temple of justice. Your other name, Chukwudumebi, is even more significant and instructive. Your life is founded on God. You have lived all your life under the shadow of the Almighty.” Agabi said

The learned silk advised Oseji to emulate Ogebe J. S. C. (rtd) who did not succumb to injustice.

He said, “A few months ago I had the privilege of participating in the launching of a book titled “Under the Shadow of the Almighty” by a retired justice of the Supreme Court, the Honourable Justice James Ogebe, CON. He emphasized in that book that we live under the shadow of the Almighty. The great example which the life of Justice Ogebe offers is that he did not succumb to injustice. We commend that example to every judge and every justice. You have suffered and continue to suffer every kind of injustice but you will not succumb. Of the sea, it is said that by itself, it is calm. It is the wind that makes it turbulent. But of you judges we say that however turbulent it becomes, you shall remain calm. Therein lies the hope of the nation.

“We celebrate this ceremony at a time of violence and uncertainty. But we will not celebrate violence. We shall celebrate peace. We shall not celebrate falsehood. We shall not fall into despair. We live in hope because we have good people like Justice Oseji and others like him in the judiciary.”

Agabi therefore concluded thus, “Justice Oseji, it is under the shadow of the Almighty that we celebrate you tonight. All your life you lived under the shadow of the Almighty. You belong to a profession. All your life you have had to contend with evil. No man or woman can last in this profession and rise to the Supreme Court who has not made the Lord his foundation. Those who know Justice Oseji bear witness to his humility. Thank you for giving us cause to celebrate you. Thank you for giving us cause to celebrate the judiciary. The honour we do to you is honour done to your family, your friends and all who mean the nation well. Thank you all.”

TNL recalls that the 1984 set of Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria (UNN) alumni had announced that it will be holding a dinner in honour of Hon. Justice Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji, J. S. C

The dinner held Furthermore, the dinner held by 6pm at Transcorp Hilton (Niger – Plateau Halls).