The African Bar Association (AFBA) has condoled with the Supreme Court and the Federal High Court over the passing of the ex-Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice M.L. Uwais and a former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice D. D. Abutu.
The association, in two separate letters to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, sent their condolences.
The letters read:
We, at the African Bar Association, received with shock but with gratitude to God, the news of the demise of Late Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais (CJN RTD).
This is a man that served Nigeria with dignity, courage and integrity at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a justice and reached the apex as Chief Justice of Nigeria.
He was a golden gift to the judiciary. He carried out his judicial functions bearing in mind that justice matters. In the administration of the affairs of the Supreme Court, he displayed frugality and accountability in financial matters.
He was a very good friend and partner of the Bar and worked harmoniously even after retirement to establish and propagate the ideals of the legal profession.
The legal profession has lost one of its finest to the cold hands of death, though inevitable.
We mourn with you and other serving and retired colleagues in the Supreme Court of Nigeria, we mourn with the immediate family, starting with our colleague Maryam Uwais, his amiable wife and other dutiful children left behind.
As we mourn, we remember his legacies of judicial uprightness, his judgments which are not only telling truth to power but also give justice deservedly.
We will all miss him, but consoled that he lived a fulfilled life and exited at a good ripe age. We pray that Aljana Firdausi be his lot and that Almighty Allah forgive him his trespasses.
High Chief Ibrahim Eddy Mark, President, AFBA.
The second letter, addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, reads:
We are in receipt of the news of the death of Justice D. D. Abutu (Rtd), Former Chief Judge, Federal High Court.
We are aware that he held office as a judge and later Chief Judge, Federal High Court.
We are also aware that he dutifully served his country in the judicial positions he held to the best of his ability and with integrity.
We mourn with you and your serving and retired brother Judges in this monumental and painful loss.
Having served creditably and without blemish, we are not only mourning his loss but also celebrating his worthy service both on the judicial stable and administrative work as Chief Judge, Federal High Court.
He has gone to meet with his creator, as there is time to be born and time to die. We pray that Almighty God, the creator, receive his departed soul in his bosom and forgive his trespasses.
We also pray that the good Lord grant his family the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.
High Chief Ibrahim Eddy Mark
President
