- Came out of coma about four months ago
- Enugu state mourns
Nigeria’s legal community is reeling with shock over the news that the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s Hon. Justice Chima Centus Nweze has reportedly died.
No official announcement has emanated from his family or the Supreme Court but sources close to the family said he died on Sunday.
Justice Nweze, popularly known as C.C Nweze was said to have been very sick the most part of last year and even slipped into coma about four months ago but eventually came out of it.
Events leading to his death on Sunday are still sketchy but not unconnected to the health challenges he has been battling with over time.
Born on 25 September 1958, he would have been 65 years old on 25 September.
C.C Nweze graduated with an LLB (Hons) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1983, BL from the Nigerian Law School in 1984, LL.M 1995, and a Ph.D. in Law 2001 from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Justice Nweze became very popular following his dissenting judgment in 2020 which declared Emeka Ihedioha of the People Democratic Party winner of the 2019 Governorship election in Imo State against the decision of the majority of the panel.
He was also among the panel of Justices who refused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar’s request to inspect the Independent National Electoral Commission’s server while challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in 2019.
Also, in a split judgement of three against two, Nweze delivered the controversial judgement of the Supreme Court which declared the then Senate President, Ahmad Lawan as the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Yobe North Senatorial District for the 25 February general election.
Justice Nweze was a native of Obollo, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
He was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.
Earlier this month, another ranking justice from Enugu state and the Presiding Justice of the Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo died at age 69. He was billed to retire in October shortly after the resumption of the Courts from vacation at age 70.
