Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Lawyers in Enugu State on Friday paid their last respect to a late colleague and Labour Party (LP) senatorial candidate in the 2023 election who was murdered alongside his friend on February 22, 2023.
The late Chukwu was the LP senatorial Candidate for Enugu East zone during the 2023 general election and died at the age of 64 years.
Elulogising the late colleague in a Court Session at the Justice Innocent Umezulike Conference Hall Enugu State High Court arena, Chief Judge of the state, Raymond Ozoemena described Chukwu as a jurist.
Justice Ozoemena said the late Chukwu obtained his first Bachelor’s degree in 1988, called to the Nigerian Bar in 1989 and was the first lawyer from his native community, Amurri, in Nkanu East.
He outlined numerous achievements of late Chukwu to include, the Chairman Local Government Organising Committee Igbo Day of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo from 2009 to 2011; National Deputy Director Niger Probe, from 1995 till his death; The South-East representative for MKO Abiola in June 12, 1993 presidential Elections; Chairman Nigeria Bar Association Oji River Branch from 2017 to 2019 and others.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, who was represented by the Deputy Director Ministry of Justice, Dr. Anayo Edeh, described the late Chukwu as a man of Justice.
According to him, Chukwu was a builder of men who fought injustice throughout his life time and stood for truth.
“Today is the day for our departed colleague to go and join his maker and we cannot question God but hope he will enjoy the paradise with Christ Jesus as a devoted Christian,” he prayed
The former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr Anthony Ani (SAN), said the late colleague exploited every political space both in higher institution and outside it.
He said, it is obvious that all mortals must die but what is worrisome is the time and circumstances of his death.
Ani said there should be dignity in death where people’s will die at old age and leaving a positive legacy in which the person would be remembered for.
Mr Charles Nwagbara, the chairman Nigeria Bar Association, Enugu branch said the state and the police failed in their duty to protect and serve justice in the gruesome murder of late Chukwu.
Nwagbara said after the death, “we requested the police to investigate the killing and bring the murderers to justice, till date no arrest had been made.
“We therefore submitted that the police and government failed in thier duty to protect Chukwu’s life and charge his killers for conspiracy and murder,” he said.
In his vote of thanks, the immediate brother of late Chukwu, Mr Lucky Chukwu, said his brother was murdered in cold blood to silience his political ambition.
“When my brother died, I was called to produce his death certificate otherwise his position as Enugu East Senetorial candidate under Labour Party will be sub-changed.
“My brother was murdererd because we said, “never again will someone be imposed on the state as Governor, representative and other political offices and that was our greatest sin.
“Chukwu was an activist who always fight for his people’s freedom and as it stands now, my family have conquered fear,” Chukwu said.
He alleged that the people that killed his brother were known and called on government of the day to wake up to their duty of protecting lives and property.
Chukwu thanked the Chief Justice of the state, Judges, Chief Registrar and his colleagues for being there for his family at the time of their grief.
It would be recalled that, late Oyibo Chukwu was brutally murdered and burnt inside his car three days before the senatorial election.
