Lokoja
The final home of the Judge of Appeal Court, late Justice Tom Shaibu Yakubu, began on Friday in Lokoja with a galore of tribute from the high and low in the society.
In his tribute to the deceased, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Governor of the state, described the late juris as an astute jurist with a reputation of honour.
He added that Yakubu was also known to have demonstrated humaneness and maintained high principles in the performance of his duties at the Court of Appeal.
Bello said at a special court session organised in memory of the late justice, who died December,24,2019 at 66 years, that the Yakubu was a man of deep learning and extraordinary insight.
He said the Yakubu must be given credit for his great contribution to the development of the law as well as the administration of justice in Nigeria.
“His lordship still had so much to offer but for his untimely passing, we are however glad that he left behind a legacy that will be long treasured by all who knew and loved him,” Bello noted with regret.
The Chief Judge of the state Justice Nasiru Ajanah,who spoke in philosophical tone, stressed the need for people to constantly remember the certainty of death and the brevity of life.
He said:“A hundred years from today, all of us would have been dead and transited to the other side of creation. Time on earth is too short for our little wars and bickering.
“As long as it lies within our power, as scriptures recommend, let us live peacefully with all men. “Then there is the futility of the relentless and reckless pursuit of materialism.
“We all have a rendezvous in eternity, we only pray that God will help us to accomplish our visions , dreams, purposes and destinies before our transition to the timelessness of eternity.”
Ajanah,who described the sudden death of late Justice as a great loss, not only to Kogi state but also the nation at large, prayed God almighty to grant the deceased eternal rest.
In its contribution, the Nigerian Bar Association , Lokoja branch, through its Chairman Barr. Sam Owoyomi said the earth, Nigeria, Kogi State and the legal profession had lost one of the finest judges.
NBA said the late Yakubu was an ideal judge, known for impartiality in the determination of cases before him.
Some members of the public who spoke to correspondent of Duaglobalnews in Lokoja, said the judge whom they described as “a man of God” would be greatly missed.
“Despite his office, he remained humble to over everybody that came across him.
“He would advise us on many issues that would better our lives, we will surely miss that humane tendency in him”, one of the staff of the court who begged for anonymity said.
