By Uzo Ugwunze
High court judges, magistrates, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs and lawyers filed out in their numbers to pay their last respect at a valedictory court session at Onitsha High court premises as the late Barrister Joseph Ogbuli began his final journey to the mother earth.
The valedictory court session which lasted for about four hours, attracted the Chief Judge of Anambra state, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, who was represented by the Administrative Judge of Onitsha Judicial Division, Justice Joseph Nweze; while the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice was represented by Barrister Uchenna Ekwerekwu.
Senior lawyers in attendance were Kpajie Nnamdi Ibegbu SAN, Chief Ikenna Egbuna SAN, C.J. Ezenwa SAN, Amaka Ezeno, (Bencher),past Chairmen of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Onitsha branch and its incumbent Chairman, Christopher Onwuzulike Esq.Also in attendance were past NBA Chairmen of Idemili/Fountain Bar including SNS Eze Esq, Barr Ben Okoko.
Other prominent members of Onitsha NBA known as the Premier Bar included its former Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Margaret Wilcox-Iwuchukwu, former Speaker of Anambra state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emeka Anyaenetu Esq., Chris Ajugwe Esq., Justus Uche Ijeoma Esq., Chuks Okoye Esq.
Speaking at the event, Onitsha NBA Chairman, Onwuzulike, former Vice-Chairman, Wilcox-Iwuchukwu, Hon. Anyanetu, Okoye and Ijeoma described the late Barrister Nnanyelugo Joseph Ogbuli as a good bar man whose services in the temple of justice are worthy of emulation.
According to them, “The late Ogbuli was grounded in the legal profession. He father was a lawyer, his younger brother is a judge of Anambra state High court. His own wife is a lawyer. He has about two or three children as lawyers and he himself promoted the legal profession to the best of his knowledge. So, what else can we say about him that is not reflected in his quality character?”.
They contended that although he died at a younger age of 62, what matters most is his achievements and the lives he impacted positively, not how long he lived. We are therefore conveying our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, his friends, well wishers and associates”.
Moreso, the Chief mourner,, Ojinnaka Phillip Ogbuli flanked by Justice Amangbo Ogbuli after describing the their deceased elder brother as a great iroko in Ogbuli/Eseagba Family thanked all members of the Judiciary, NBA, friends and well wishers for their immense support during their mourning period..
Other dignitaries who came to commiserate with the family of the bereaved include Vice Chancellor Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University COOU Igbariam, Prof Kate Omenugha.
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