(From left) Supreme Court’s Justice Nweze and Mallong of Federal High Court
Supreme Court’s Justice Nweze, Mallong of Federal High Court confirmed dead
Supreme Court of Nigeria has confirmed the death of Justice Chima Centus Nweze. This is also as the Federal High Court announced the death of Justice Peter Hoommuk Mallong.
Both justices reportedly died same day, Sunday, July 30.
Spokesperson of the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande confirmed the development when contacted, while the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Hassan Sulaiman, also confirmed Justice Mallong’s death.
According to Sulaiman’s statement: “It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the death of our own, Hon. Justice Peter Hoommuk Mallong, a judge of the Federal High Court, who passed away on 30th July 2023 unexpectedly after a brief illness in Abuja.
“We will miss him more than words can express. Funeral arrangements will be communicated to the public in due time.”
Reacting to the passing of Justice Nweze, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal, quoted the group’s President, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) as expressing ‘shock about Justice Nweze’s death.’
“The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN has received with shock and dismay the news of the passing of Hon. Justice Chima Centus Nweze, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which sad event occurred on Sunday, 30 July, 2023.
“Hon. Justice Nweze was an astute and erudite jurist. His lordship’s numerous decisions have shaped, impacted and developed our law and jurisprudence. He was a disciplined, hardworking, and courageous judicial officer,” the statement read.
The 65-year-old Justice Nweze who hails from Enugu State, was the judge who delivered a controversial judgement of the Supreme Court which affirmed former Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Yobe North.
Reacting to his demise, the President of the NBA, Maikyau SAN described Justice Nweze as ‘an astute and erudite jurist whose numerous decisions have shaped, impacted and developed our law and jurisprudence.’
”He was a disciplined, hardworking, and courageous judicial officer.
“The NBA President condoles with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kayode Ariwoola, GCON, the entire Nigerian Judiciary, the Government and People of Enugu State, friends and family of Hon. Justice Nweze over the demise of his lordship and prays that the Almighty God comforts his lordship’s family and friends,” the statement read.
With the demise of Nweze, the South East region currently has no representation in the apex court bench following the death of Justice Sylvester Ngwuta.
