‘Oputa came, saw and conquered’

The eminent jurist died  Sunday afternoon at his Abuja home shortly after he was discharged from hospital. Prominent legal practitioners in the country expressed shock and sadness over the death of the late jurist on Sunday.Meanwhile, tributes have continued to pour in for the late legal icon.Reacting yesterday, NBA President Okay Wali, a Senior Advocate […]

The eminent jurist died  Sunday afternoon at his Abuja home shortly after he was discharged from hospital.
Prominent legal practitioners in the country expressed shock and sadness over the death of the late jurist on Sunday.
Meanwhile, tributes have continued to pour in for the late legal icon.
Reacting yesterday, NBA President Okay Wali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said though Oputa died at what people would refer to as a ripe old age but even at that he meant so much to the legal profession that he  would be missed. “He was such a great Nigerian. We thank God for his life, he led a very good life,” the NBA President said.
Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN said, “Oputa’s death is a monumental loss to the legal profession, the judiciary and the entire nation. He was a legal prodigy, an iconic phenomenon, the quintessential legal oracle and an unparalleled jurist of inestimable value. He put a shine on the Nigerian legal firmament like zillion stars, bestriding the Nigerian judicial space like the collosus that he was.
“His judgements were lucid and provocative, his thoughts fecund, his writing skillful, literary and philosophical. Oputa dared to be different, charting new courses of judicial activism in the mould of Lord Denning. Perhaps, his greatest contributions are in the realm of national rebirth and regeneration when he headed the famous Oputa Panel on human rights violations in Nigeria.
“He was bold, courageous, nationalistic, patriotic and passionate about the Nigerian project in his handling of the assignment.  Oputa came, saw and conquered.”
Sebastine Hon (SAN) in his tribute said, “What a loss! Our generation has lost a legal colossus! Our consolation, however, lies in the fact that he left indelible marks on the sands of our legal jurisprudence. I strongly recommend that both the federal and his state governments should immortalize him. I also call on members of the Bench to emulate the erudite, incorruptible man. May the Good Lord grant him eternal rest.”
Austine Alegeh said, “The loss of Justice Oputa is indeed sad. The legal profession and the nation have lost an erudite jurist. One of the best in our recent history. His incisive and illuminating judgments will remain a strong testimony to his service to the legal profession. A true legal colossus has rested. We join in praying for the repose of his soul and pray to God to comfort and provide for all he left behind.”
According to Funke Adekoya (SAN), “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 writing.”
Former president of the NBA, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, described the deceased as one of the nation’s finest legal minds. “It’s very sad that the great jurist has passed on. Having actively appeared before him, I can confirm that he was one of our finest legal minds. My prayers are with my friend Charly Boy and his family,” he said.
Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, described the late jurist as “Socrates of the Supreme Court.”
 “He did not only understand the law as a Justice of the Supreme Court, he understood and applied the philosophy of law. His reasons for his judgments were often illuminating. He made law look like a mathematics,” Oyetibo said.
Yusuf Alli (SAN) said, “Like the death of every person, the death is painful. But we thank God that he left at a very old age. His death is a loss not only to Nigeria’s jurisprudence but to the jurisprudence of the whole world. He contributed immensely to our jurisprudence from the High Court to the Supreme Court. He was a gifted orator and an engaging writer. He has left an indelible mark.”
According to Festus Keyamo, Justice Oputa gave all his life and energy for the development of the law, the maintenance of the etiquette of the legal profession and the sanctity of the Bench.
 “Both as a judge of the High Court and as a justice of other superior courts, his incisive judgments, robust and notable pronouncements and quintessential erudition in all his decisions on the Bench, have left an indelible mark in the legal profession. His calmness and remarkable wit on the Bench has since laid down a mark for other judicial officers to follow.
 “Even as a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Oputa did not tire out. His renowned chairmanship of the Oputa Panel that was set up by President Obasanjo to address past wrongs in the country still remains a watershed in the annals of this country,” Keyamo said.
Born on September 22, 1924 in Oguta, Imo State, his father was Chief Oputa Izukwu and his mother Madam Nwanetu Oputa. He had his early education in Sacred Heart School, Oguta and Christ the King College, Onitsha.
Young Oputa proceeded to Yaba Higher College, but due to the exigencies of the Second World War, was sent along with others to the famous Achimota College, Ghana, then Gold Coast. There he graduated with  B.Sc (Hon) Economics in 1945. After this he came back to Nigeria and took up a teaching appointment with Calabari National College. He later came to Lagos where he worked as Assistant District Officer (ADO). It was here that Justice Oputa achieved a remarkable feat; he studied at home and obtained his BA (Hon) history at home.
Justice Oputa then proceeded to London where he got his LLB (Hon) and was called to Bar in Gray’s Inn, London.
Upon his return to Nigeria, then Barrister Oputa went into brilliant and successful private practice, handling such celebrated cases and special inquires as the Oguta Chieftaincy Dispute 1958/ 59, the Amanyanabo Dispute 1956/ 60 and many more.
In 1966, Justice Oputa was appointed Judge of the High Court of the then Eastern Nigeria and moved on to become the first Chief Judge of Imo State 10 years later.
In 1984, he became a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. It did not take long before Justice Oputa put his stamp on the Supreme Court as a man profoundly moved by classical literature, history, divinity and philosophy and whose judgments possessed the temerity that is in the preserve of genius.
When he retired in 1989, it was quite clear that Justice Oputa still had more to offer.
Justice Oputa’s neatness and personal appearance never went unnoticed. He was  not all law. He was a devoted Christian and played active role in the church. He was honoured in the Catholic Church with Knight Commander of St. Gregory the Great. He is also Knight Commander of St. Sylvester Pope, Knight of St. Mulumba.
Justice Oputa had published over 40 papers in lectures, conferences and seminars. He continued to be given federal government  assignments even after retirement.
He was a dedicated family man, devoted to his wife Margaret and his  children. His second son is Mr. Charles Oputa, aka Charly boy.
Oputa was appointed to head a panel constituted to investigate rights abuses during 15 years of military rule between 1976 and 1999 when President Olusegun Obasanjo took office as elected president on 29 May, 1999.