Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Justice Chima Centus Nweze of the Supreme Court is feared dead.
This is as a Federal High Court (FHC) Judge, Justice Peter Mallong, is dead.
Both Justices died Sunday, July 29 in Abuja according to reports.
Justice Nweze, 64, hailed from Obollo, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Justice Mallong died after a brief illness in Abuja.
The Chief Registar of FHC, Hassan Amida Sulaiman, announced the sudden death of the judge in a statement he made available to newsmen Monday morning.
It read: “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 Sunday 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.”
On the part of Justice Nweze, his family is yet to confirm his rumoured death but a source said he passed on Sunday in Abuja after a brief illness.
Justice Nweze became very popular following his dissenting judgment in 2020 controversial Supreme Court judgment that sacked Gov. Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State, and replaced him with the incumbent Senator Hope Uzodinma.
Despite the position of the panel, Justice Nweze gave a minority judgment that opposed the removal of Ihedioha.
Justice Nweze was also among the panel of Justices who refused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar’s request to inspect the Independent National Electoral Commission’s server while challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in 2019.
Similarly, Justice Nweze, in a split judgment of three against two, delivered the controversial judgment of the Supreme Court which declared the then Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, as the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Yobe North Senatorial District for the 25 February general election.
