CJN Showers Accolades On Late Justice Niki Tobi, Commiserates With Family

Justice Niki Tobi, JSC

CHIEF Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on Monday showered accolades to the retired Justice Niki Tobi, JSC who reportedly died at 5.30 p.m last Thursday at the National Hospital in Abuja after a brief illness at 75.

In a condolence letter through by his media aide, Mr. Ahuraka Isah, the CJN charged the late jurist’s family to accept the demise of the legend with gratitude to the almighty God for a life well spent adding that Justice Tobi lived a fulfilled life and essentially served his nation meritoriously while alive...

CJN emphatically noted that Tobi would always be remembered for his outstanding role during the drafting of 1999 Constitution adopted by the then military administration of Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar ahead of the nation’s return to democratic rule.

“The CJN, on behalf of himself, the Justices, workers of the Supreme Court and indeed the nation’s Judiciary, commiserates with the immediate family, relations as well as friends and associates of the respected late jurist, who joined the Supreme Court Bench in 2002 and retired on July 14, 2010.

“The deceased Justice indelibly contributed to the development of jurisprudence in Nigeria and will be greatly remembered for his assiduousness in reviewing the draft 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria under the military administration of General Abdulsalam Abubakar.

“His Lordship, the Honourable CJN, urges members of the deceased’s family to be comforted by the knowledge that the departed jurist served his country with commitment, dedication and honesty. The CJN prays that Almighty God will receive his soul…”, Isah stated.

Born on July 14, 1940, in Esanma,Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, the deceased would have been 76 in July.

Apart from being on the apex court bench from 2002 to 2010, Tobi was part of the majority of four Justices of the Supreme Court that validated the election of the late President Umar Yar’Adua, against the dissenting judgments of three other Justices that nullified the election in 2007.