Death paid its cold unscheduled visit Sunday morning on the Supreme Court of Nigeria and took away Hon. Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta.
Justice Ngwuta died this morning at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Hospital, Abuja having been admitted there since Saturday, 27 February 2021.
The apex Court in a press statement signed by its Chief Registrar, Hadizatu Uwani Mustapha, Esq. has confirmed his death.
Ngwuta was to retire from the Supreme Court of Nigeria on March 30, 2021 by which time he would have attained the mandatory retirement age of 70.
The press statement reads: “The Supreme Court of Nigeria regrets to announce the death of the Hon. Mr. Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, JSC, CFR, by 2.30 am of Sunday March 7, 2021.
“He felt sick and was admitted in the last one week in the National Hospital, Abuja, but before he was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital on Friday March 5 he tested negative to COVID-19 investigative test conducted on him.
“Hon. Justice Ngwuta was due to retire from the Supreme Court bench on attaining mandatory retirement age of 70 years on March 30, 2021.
“His remains have been deposited in the National Hospital mortuary pending the arrangement for his burial.
“Hon. Justice Ngwuta who was appointed Supreme Court Justice on March 22, 2011 was born on March 30, 1951 in Amofia-Ukawu, Onicha Local government of Ebonyi State. His lordship had his basic education in the Eastern part of Nigeria and got his LLB in University of Ife (Now Obafemi Awolowo University). lle-ife in 1977 and BL at the Nigerian law school in 1978.
“May the late Hon. Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta rest in perfect peace and grant his family, Judiciary and the apex court to bear the irreparable loss.
According to Wikipedia: Justice Sylvester was born in 1951 Amofia-Ukawu, Onicha local government area of Ebonyi State, South-Eastern, Nigeria.
He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law from Obafemi Awolowo University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978 after he graduated from the Nigerian Law School.
Justice Sylvester began his Law career in 1978 as a State counsel in Benue State Ministry of Justice, the same year he established his own law firm.
On October 1995, he was appointed as a Judge of the Abia State High Court.
On 22 May, 2011, he was appointed to the bench of the Nigerian courts of appeal and on May 2013, he was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as Justice.
He presided over the ruling of the Supreme Court that affirmed Olusegun Mimiko as the governor elect of Ondo State in the May 2013 governorship election.
He also presided over the ruling of the Supreme Court that affirmed Kayode Fayemi as the governor elect of Ekiti State in the June 2013 governorship election and was supported by Justices Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad and Suleiman Galadima.
He was arrested by the Department of State Security Services (DSS) on 8 October 2016 on allegations of bribery and corruption.
However, the Court of Code Tribunal (CCT) ruled that they could in May 2018 that only the National Judicial Council could determine whether or not Ngwata would face trial.
In September 2019, Ngwuta resumed his duties as a Supreme Court Justice after a three year suspension.
He was Member, Nigerian Bar Association; member, International Bar Association; and, member, Nigerian Body of Benchers.
