—Describes him as quintessential jurist
The Old Seminarians Association of Nigeria (OSAN) has expressed grief over the death of Justice Chima Centus Nweze.
OSAN described Justice Nweze, who until his death was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, as a Jurist par excellence, an accomplished, distinguished intellectual of no mean standing, legal icon of international repute and an erudite scholar.
The Association in a statement by its President, Barrister Chinedu Akubeze and the Public Relations Officer, Comrade Johnbosco Agbakwuru, said the late judicial icon through sound and landmark judgements enriched the nation’s jurisprudence.
The statement read in part: “We, the entire members of the OLD SEMINARIANS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, (OSAN) wish to express deep shock at the heart-wrenching and devastating announcement of the death of Justice Nweze, one of the leading light of the Nigeria’s judiciary.
“He was one of us, an outstanding, pioneer member of the association who contributed immensely to our rapid growth within a few years of formation. We didn’t have even the slightest inkling of any sickness and were shocked beyond words upon hearing of his sudden demise.
“It is with deep sorrow that we mourn him, aware of his personal sacrifices, dedication and unalloyed commitment to advancing and fashioning out the ideas and fundamental principles upon which the core values, aims , objectives, vision and mission of our association were anchored.
“A Jurist par excellence, an accomplished, distinguished intellectual of no mean standing, legal icon of international repute, erudite scholar, teacher, writer, author and humanist, we drew profusely from his uncommon insight and perception in the last two years of our formation.
“Of particular interest to me as the President of OSAN, and of course, to those of us who were part of the series of meetings held during discussions on the way forward, was Justice Nweze’s extraordinary humility, composure, patience and a sense of commitment and dedication to our cause.
“Each time we scheduled a meeting; he was almost always the first to arrive and would sit quietly as he waited for others to come. He never for once complained about people not arriving in time, even as those who usually came late got embarrassed to know that he had long been around, a Supreme Court Judge for that matter!
“Naturally, knowing his pedigrees and antecedents, his extraordinary intellectual endowments, erudite and scholarly accomplishments, we were not surprised as his insights which illuminated our ideas and objectives and gave us a near perfect guidance and direction.
“That OSAN is today almost a household name among Catholic Christian communities in Nigeria owes largely to Justice Nweze’s clarity of thought and vision that have helped immensely in shaping our nascent Association.
“What can we say? What can we do? Death is beyond the apron strings of man’s idiosyncratic indulgence, otherwise we could have held back its inexorable hold on human destiny. To imagine that Justice Centus Nweze had gone with all that inestimable knowledge in him, is too painful to bear.
“Our consolation, however, is that death has never been partial or selective. It is fair to the extent that it has no respect for the highly, lowly, poor or rich.
We are also consoled by the knowledge that Justice Centus Nweze, by his actions and deeds, his intellectual and outstanding legal contributions, left enviable footprints in the sands of time.
“He contributed to enrich the jurisprudence of the country through sound and landmark judgements. Some of the judgements have stood him out in many places. We are also aware of the fact that as a human, he may have erred in the process of carrying out his onerous task.
“He never lost touch of the orientation he had in his seminary formation and he brought it to bear in all his dealings bearing in mind that a day like this will come when he will face the final judge on his judgement throne.”
The Association appealed to the members of the late jurist icon nuclear family, relatives, friends and colleagues to bear the loss with fortitude and equanimity of heart.
“Here at OSAN, we are also no less pained and frustrated by Justice Nweze’s sudden departure. As we console ourselves, so we also do to others, especially the wife and children.
May his gentle soul, rest in perfect peace. Amen, ” the statement added.
Meanwhile, OSAN has commiserated with the family of Justice Nweze.
In a condolence message signed by Dr. Victor Embugushiki, General Secretary on behalf of the Board of Trustees and executive members, OSAN said Justice Nweze was a committed member who
contributed immensely to its growth and the nation at large before his death.
It prayed the almighty God to grant his soul a peaceful repose.