TELL Magazine

Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State, has described the late Chief Justice of Yobe State, Garba Nabaruma, as a good man who would “remain a compass for the judiciary in its search for justice, especially at this time of trial. Besides, his contributions to the development of the country’s jurisprudence would remain indelible in the history of the judiciary.”

Nabaruma, who died on Monday was the Chairman of the Anambra State Election Tribunal, which in 2006 gave the landmark judgment that recovered the stolen mandate of Obi and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the 2003 governorship election in Anambra State.

Obi said the news of the death of the late chief judge was ‘shocking and devastating,’ recalling the exploits of Justice Nabaruma in the 2003 election tribunal.

Obi recalled that the declaration came at a time the recovery of stolen mandates in Nigerian courts seemed impossible and noted that it took courage, principled stand on issues and fear of God for any judge to have made that declaration at the time Nabartuma and his colleagues did.

“Though Justice Nabaruma is dead, he will remain a compass for the judiciary in its search for justice, especially at this time of trial. Besides, his contributions to the development of the country’s jurisprudence would remain indelible in the history of the judiciary.”

He prayed God to grant him eternal repose and grant those he left to mourn him the courage to accept his passing. Obi who consoled the family, the judiciary, the government and people of Yobe State, saying such a judge would remain a proof of the saying that “the judiciary is the last hope for the common man.”