Nigerians mourn Eso

The death, on Friday, of eminent jurist and a former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Kayode Eso, has continued to elicit reactions from Nigerians, mostly in the form of  glowing tributes.
He represented the golden age -Solanke
Among the first callers at Eso’s residence at Ikolaba, Ibadan, was Chief (Mrs) Folake Solanke — the first Nigerian female Senior Advocate.
 She described his death as a colossal loss to his family, the legal profession, the country and the entire world.
“I find it extremely difficult to be using the past tense to talk about him. The late justice was a man who represented the golden age of the Supreme Court in Nigeria.
“His legal knowledge was awesome; his knowledge of literature was superb and his knowledge of the English language was extraordinary,” she said.
Solanke added that Eso was also a God-fearing man, who recently commissioned a chapel, built at his personal expense for his people at Ilesa, Osun State.
Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, also extolled the virtues of the late jurist, saying he was always alerting the legal profession to the decline in its quality.
Sagay, Akinjide, others pay tributes
Prominent lawyers in Lagos, who reacted to his death also paid glowing tributes to Eso.
The lawyers, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews, lauded Eso’s contributions to the advancement of the judiciary.
A constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), said the death was a major tragedy and blow to the country.
Sagay said: “For me, it is a major tragedy because he was not only a legal colossus, he was the ‘Mr Integrity’ of Nigeria. He was a landmark for honesty, integrity and principles.
“So, it is a blow to the country and for me. He was an uncle to me. It is an exceptional loss, it is enormous and incalculable.
“In fact, that is the person by whom I judge things, the standard that I follow. Apart from his brilliance and his great contributions, his integrity and uprightness has been a beacon for the rest of us.”
Professor Taiwo Osipitan (SAN) described the death of the eminent jurist as shocking, saying that his contributions to the legal profession would outlive him.
“It is shocking, but then, it is also a graceful passage and a painless one. One can only pray that his beloved soul would rest in perfect peace.
“He made substantial contributions to the legal profession, which would obviously outlive him.
“He was known for being honest, he was known for being fearless, he was known for being just and above all, he was an incorruptible judge,” he said.
On his part, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), said Eso’s death was a national calamity because he was one of the best judges the country had produced.
Akinjide said: “His judgments are comparable to the best judgments in all the English-speaking world.
“It is a great loss to the Commonwealth, and condolences to members of his family, Nigerians and the Federal Government.
“He was involved in putting together the constitution of South Africa, which has been serving that country very well since (Nelson) Mandela.
“People like him are few and rare. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”
Mr Olu Daramola (SAN), said Eso was a pride to the country, adding that he would be remembered for being a judge with a high sense of integrity.
“Eso was a great man by all standard and a pride to the country. His death is a loss for Nigeria,” Daramola said.
A human rights activist, Mr Bamidele Aturu, said the former Supreme Court justice exemplified the core values of the legal profession.
“It is a very sad loss in the sense that the man represented the best of our values in judicial system.
“Eso was outstanding in terms of integrity, in terms of dedication to service and in terms of commitment to sound principles of the law. We will miss him greatly,” Aturu said.
The Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said the departed justice had left a vacuum in the judiciary.
Chairman of the branch, Mr Onyekachi Ubani, who described Eso as an epitome of justice and honesty, said his judgments were a combination of law, logic and reality.
Ubani said: “He was one of the best to have passed through the judicial pinnacle, the Supreme Court. He is quite irreplaceable.
“He was an erudite judge who delivered judgments combining law, logic and reality. You cannot fault his judgment, his logic and any judicial pronouncement that he made. It is a sad news that we have lost Eso at this point in time.”
Mr Peter Ikujini, a former chairman, NBA, Ado-Ekiti branch, said Eso’s death was a loss to the country.
“The Nigerian Bar and Bench will miss him badly. May his great soul rest in peace,” Ikujini said.
In his reaction, the Ibadan branch chairman of the NBA, Mr Oluseun Abimbola, said Eso was forthright, credible and stood for integrity.
“This is obviously a sad loss, not only for the legal world, but also the country as a whole.
“He was one of the last few ones you could hope to emulate their principles.
“He stood for the Nigeria project and he would be missed for his activities, especially as it relates to judicial reforms,” he said.
Oyinlola: It’s a national loss
A former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, described Eso’s death as a national loss.
“It is also a great loss to Osun State and to Nigeria. His legal activism, landmark pronouncements and the personal integrity that drove his career are what marked him out of the crowd.
“He will be missed by all who crave a better Nigeria, where the judiciary is truly independent and is the last hope of the common man.
“May God give his family the fortitude to bear the loss and grant him eternal peace,” Oyinlola said.
‘He’s irreplaceable’
A former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Samuel Ilori, described the death of the retired justice as a loss to the judiciary.
Ilori said Eso was one of the best justices the country had produced.
He told NAN in an interview in Lagos that the loss was irreplaceable.
According to him, the late justice was held in high esteem for his intolerance for corruption.
Ilori said that three major qualities stood Eso out as a jurist — his uprightness, integrity and vast knowledge of the law.
“When it comes to legal knowledge, Eso was one of the very best,” he said.
In his reaction, Mr Yemi Candide-Johnson (SAN), a Lagos-based lawyer, expressed sadness at the death.
“I have known the late Justice Eso personally since I was a child, and can say, to a large extent, that the judiciary has suffered a great loss.
“He was a man who represented a historic perspective of Nigeria’s judicial system. He was a true legal icon.
“He lived a life worthy of emulation, and so, it is expected that other justices take hints from his lifestyle,” he said.
Akeredolu: He was a consistent advocate
In his contribution, a former NBA president, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, described the death of Eso as shocking and sad.
“The news of the demise of yet another national icon, retired Justice Kayode Eso, is sad indeed.
“He bestrode the legal firmament with unequalled gusto. His contributions to our jurisprudence remain invaluable.
“He was a consistent advocate of a corrupt-free judiciary, nay, society,” Akeredolu said.
The former NBA president said that the late jurist would be remembered for his courage and activism on the Bench.
Obada: He served Nigeria well
The Minister of State for Defence, Chief (Mrs.) Olusola Obada, in her reaction, said, “Justice Kayode Eso was first and foremost my uncle, in whom I am well pleased, a father figure, whose immense contributions to my life will remain indelible.”
She described Eso as a distinguished jurist, who served the nation meritoriously without blemish.
“He was a brilliant judge whose judgments will remain a reference point in the nation’s legal system. He was a great Nigerian patriot that we will miss when we need men of honour and integrity for their wise counsel,” she added.
Kalejaiye: He was an activist
CHIEF Kunle Kalejaiye said the death of great people should be a reminder that death is the ultimate end.
“Eso was arguably one of the most quoted jurists of our time. Of course, as a justice, he could not have pleased all, as there would be losers and winners. But his judgments revealed the man as an activist.”
He was incorruptible —Fayemi
Sam Nwaoko, Ado Ekiti
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State expressed regret, describing Eso’s passage as a “big blow to the judiciary in particular and the nation at large.”
Dr. Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, described Eso as “an incomparable legal giant, whose contribution to jurisprudence will remain indelible in Nigeria and Africa.”
He said Eso was “an impartial, incorruptible and fearless justice, who did justice to all cases before him, regardless of personalities involved. Eso was the conscience of the nation’s judiciary.”
Fayemi prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss, urging them to take solace in the legacies of their patriarch.
‘A grandmaster of the law’
Justice Saka Yusuf, a former Chief Judge of Kwara State, described the death as shocking, saying that late legal luminary’s contributions to the profession would be missed.
Yusuf, in an interview with NAN, in Abuja, said Eso was one of the grandmasters of the law.
“He was a brilliant jurist with outstanding integrity and extraordinary courage,” he said.
Yusuf said that Justice Eso was one of the country’s most respected justices and prayed God to grant him eternal rest.
He condoled with the family, friends and colleagues.
Also speaking, Mr Rickey Tarfa (SAN) described Eso’s death as a colossal loss to the legal profession and the country.
“The late justice was a man who represented the golden age of the Supreme Court in Nigeria.
“He was one of the best justices that came out of the Supreme Court.
“His legal knowledge was superb and outstanding. He will be greatly missed in judicial adjudication,” he said.
The Chairman of NBA, Abuja branch, Mr Afam Osigwe, described Eso as a “judicial icon and serious legal mind.”
Osigwe said that Eso’s contributions to the judiciary were immeasurable.
He said that the landmark judgments delivered by the jurist remained relevant to contemporary jurists.
Ooni, Mimiko, others mourn Eso; Osun declares three-day mourning
A super jurist is gone —Ooni
THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, also on Friday, expressed sadness over the death of Justice Eso.
In a statement issued by his spokesman, Chief Funmilola Olorunisola, Oba Sijuwade said:  “Upright men are exiting the firmament. It is sad, shocking and tragic  for our country, the passing away of Hon. Justice Kayode Eso,  a  retired super jurist of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“A honest, hardworking, humane but firm and resolute in the application of law and facts. Irrepressibly courageous and fearless, Justice Eso  was an  incorruptible judge. A correct and committed family man, a community leader of no mean description. Justice Eso was a rights activist of a kind as he had zero tolerance for the oppression of the the less privileged.
“Eso was always in the vanguard of anything that would enhance the unity of the people of his town-Ilesa, his state-Osun, the South-West zone and of our great country, which he never stopped serving until he breathed his last. The Ooni commiserates with Nigerians, his  wife and children. May his soul rest in peace.”
Aregbesola declares three-day mourning
Oluwole Ige, Osogbo
Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has declared a three-day mourning in honour of Eso.
He directed that all flags be flown at half mast for the same period as mark of honour for the eminent jurist, just as he described him as a protagonist of judicial activism.
Aregbesola, who addressed a special legislative sitting in the chamber of the state House of Assembly, on Friday, said the death was a loss to the nation and the judiciary.
He noted that the deceased was a  crusader of an independent judiciary and famed for his efforts at maintaining discipline and protecting the integrity of the court.
The governor said throughout his life, Eso remained committed to justice and rule of law, while being a campaigner of true federalism.
Tambuwal: We have lost a moral voice
Kolawole Daniel, Abuja
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, described Justice Eso as an eminent jurist, whose impact in the legal profession would be felt for a long time.
According to him, “the late Justice Eso exemplified what was best in our judiciary and his death will certainly deprive the country of a moral voice.”
In a message of condolence issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal described the deceased as an uncompromising jurist who stood for what was right at all times.
“Justice Eso was a through professional, a man who staked his all for the development of the judiciary. Nigeria has lost a moral voice at a time men of his virtue are clearly needed in all facets of our national endeavour. We are blessed to have had such a wonderful person pass through this nation as one of our citizens,” he said.
While praying God to give the deceased’s family the fortitude to bear the loss, Tambuwal urged all Nigerians to emulate the eminent jurist who, he said, had left his mark in the sands of time.
Mimiko: Another great loss
The Ondo State governor, Dr  Olusegun Mimiko, described the death as another great loss to the nation, the judiciary in particular.
He said Eso’s exit had robbed the country’s legal jurisprudence of a great mind.
According to him, the legal icon played his part in promoting the course of justice and rule of law, doing it with unequalled passion.
Justice Eso’s death, Mimiko submitted, is “another death too many in this land that has continued to deplete the rank and file of the best of men in Nigeria.”
Commiserating with the family of the deceased, Mimiko enjoined them to take solace in the fact that their patriarch lived a life of honesty, probity, transparency and hardwork in his chosen career.
The governor regretted that this was an unusual time in the land and prayed God to show his love on the country, urging all patriots to remain committed to the ideals that can promote peace.
Ajibola: He believed in fair play
A former judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Prince Bola Ajibola, expressed his commiseration over the death of the foremost jurist.
In a release by his media aide, Idris Katib, Ajibola described the late Eso as one, who believed in social justice and eradication of corruption and malpractice in the socio-political and judicial lives of the people.
“The death of Justice Kayode Eso marks the departure of a great jurist of 21st Century.
He was a frank and outspoken judge of our era who believed very strongly in fair play in all manners of human endeavour. The legal profession, The judiciary and all Nigerians shall miss him,” Ajibola said.
Babatope: He loved Nigeria
A former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said the country has, once again, been thrown into mourning with the death of one of the greatest legal minds.
“Justice Kayode was my uncle, as we are both of the Odole chieftaincy family of Ijesaland. Justice Eso was a forthright, brilliant, fearless and honest man, who loved his country to the very end.
“His judicial decisions and pronouncements in his many years in the high and supreme courts were simply flawless and flaughtless. His book: The Secret Gunman,  reveals a lot about his character and his entire life, based on truth, justice and fairplay to all.
“I commiserate with President Goodluck Jonathan, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Nigerians and Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland on the death of this patriot,” Babatope said.
Ojo, Agbakoba, others extol his virtues
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), stated that the death of Justice Eso was a major loss to the judicial firmament.
“He represented the beauty of the profession. He was a perfectionist in law, moral standing and taste as evident in his dress sense which he cultivated from his growing days and maintained till he breathed his last,” he said.
Human rights activist, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, described the late justice as “a man who lived an exemplary life in the Bench in an unrivalled capacity.
Agbakoba said Eso was a family friend and a role model, having given him the first job in his legal career.
He added that the late justice’s performance at the Bench shone like “morning stars” and was responsible for the development of jurisprudence in the country.
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, in his response, said: “I received with great shock and deep sense of loss, the death of Honourable Justice Kayode Eso, retired justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“His death has drawn a great blanket over the Nigerian legal firmament. Coming at a time when Nigeria needed judicial rescue, when the tempo of judicial activism seemed to be at its lowest ebb, Justice Eso’s death cannot but create a big vacuum in the legal history of Nigeria, which will be difficult to fill.”
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Tayo Oyetibo, described him as “a great justice and jurist. Very deep in his knowledge of the law and its philosophy. He was not given to avoiding difficult issues of law and jurisprudence arising from cases he had opportunities to judge.
“He would confront them frontally and made his position known. He would assert his views with so much authority as to show the depth of his knowledge of the law. The legal profession and the nation would miss him.”
Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, Mr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, said: “What a loss! He was one of the best to have passed through the judicial pinnacle. He was an epitome of justice, integrity and honesty, an erudite Supreme Court justice. We have lost a gem.”
For Segun Ajibola, SAN, Eso was “arguably the greatest Nigerian jurist of his time.
“He served the nation selflessly with the testimony of an unblemished, enviable and remarkable judicial record that remains hard to surpass and a nagging challenge to successive judicial regimes to date as to how it should be done. Another great loss of that vintage era.”
Northern govs salute him
Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has expressed sadness over the death of Eso.
Chairman of the forum and Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo,  said Justice Eso’s death was saddening and painful, particularly that it came at a time when his advice and guidiance were required to consolidate the gains made in the nation’s judiciary.
“Regarded as the father of judicial activism, the late justice was perhaps the greatest single advocate of the independence of the judiciary and he was well known for his relentless efforts in maintaining discipline and protecting the integrity of the court,” the statement said.
Governor Aliyu said it was disheartening that the legal luminary died at a time he still had much to contribute not only to the development of the bar and the bench but to the society in general.
Amaechi: He was a rare breed
Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, expressed shock over the death of Eso.
In a statement by his spokesman, Mr. David Iyofor, Amaechi described Justice Eso as an accomplished jurist, “a rare breed of uncommon wisdom and sharp intellect who always stood on the side of the law and what is right.”
The governor hailed Justice Eso’s contributions to the growth of the country’s legal and justice system and the good work he did as a justice of the Supreme Court.
“Justice Esho was a man of uncommon virtues. His work in the apex court would not be easily forgotten. Most important to us here in Rivers State was his commitment to the Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) which he chaired, contributing to the return of peace and sanity in the state,” he said.
The governor condoled with the Eso family, the judiciary and the entire country and prayed for the repose of his soul.
Oni: He was law-personified
THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Vice Chairman (South-West), Chief Segun Oni, described the deceased eminent jurist as one of the most brilliant and consistent legal minds to come out of Africa, saying: “We have lost a man who was the law personified.”
Oni, who reacted to Justice Eso’s death through his media aide, Mr. Lere Olayinka, said the jurist lived and died for the law, ensuring that it was justly applied.
“This is a sad moment for Nigeria, especially its judiciary because, obviously, the beautiful ones are, indeed, departing.
“Baba was a just justice, whose decisions were never in any doubt. He was one of the finest minds in Nigeria’s jurisprudence and the continent of Africa,” Oni said.