A renowned Imo top legal luminary, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice,Professor Francis O. Dike, has expressed shock over death of the two eminent jurists of Imo State, Justice Nonye Okoronkwo of the Court of Appeal and Justice Nkwoada, former President of Imo State Customary Court of Appeal and described their death as irreparable loss to the judicial system and to Imo people in general.
Professor Dike who is saddened by the sudden deaths of the Imo eminent jurists especially young Nonye Okoronkwo, observed that the Imo reputable learned gentlemen have contributed immensely in promoting the course of justice in Nigeria.
In a release he made available to our reporter, Prof. Dike lamented that the news of the demise of Justice Nonye Okoronkwo came to him as a surprise a few days after he had mentioned his name somewhere as a brilliant and very articulate mind.
In his condolence message, Chief Dike lamented “infact, when I heard of the news, my mind went to Nkwoada especially “N” as first alphabet focused my mind to Nkwoada and I had to assure myself it’s Nonye not Nkwoada I’m seeing. A bolt from the blue”.
Oh my goodness. I’m grieving. I just can’t understand how a man (Okoronkwo) I spoke with some days ago now belongs to the ages. How such brilliant mind can be lost in one fell swoop leaving us unprepared for the shock. Renown and grace is gone”, he mourned.
The former Commissioner has on the occasion commiserated with the Imo State government, the Imo Judiciary, the State Bench and Bar Association over the great loss and prayed that the souls of the two jurists rest in peace.
