By Ezrel Tabiowo
Abuja
Senators yesterday eulogised the late Justice Oputa just as the upper chamber urged the federal government to immortalise the late Supreme Court judge, Justice who died on May 1, 2014, aged 94.
The Senate’s decision to so do was reached sequel to a motion sponsored by Sen. Hope Uzodinma (PDP-Imo) on his demise.
Uzodinma said: “Oputa was one of Nigeria’s finest legal icons who served the country diligently in many capacities even before the attainment of independence.
“His judicial career spanned 36 years through four regions, states and territories until his retirement from the Supreme Court at the age in 1989.
“His exploits in the Supreme Court earned him the name ‘Socrates of the Supreme Court., His judgements were a compendium of well researched and deep philosophical thinking.”
Also contributing, the Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba said “Oputa, apart from being a legal icon, remained a national moral beacon and he can never be forgotten because his judgments are indelible.”
Chris Ngige called for the imortalisation of the legal icon by the federal government.
“This Senate should make a strong case for him (Oputa) to be immortalised because this is a man who has left indelible foot marks in the annals of history,” he said.
In his remarks, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, said: “God blessed him with a long life and he served his country well. He deserves the special tributes being accorded him by the senators.
“It is only in few moments that the Senate finds time to pay tribute to one that was not a senator, a parliamentarian in any way and this is one of such moments.”
Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday also resolved to send a delegation to condole with the family of the late deputy Senate President, Sen. Wash Pam, who died on May 1, 2014.
Pam served as Deputy Senate President from 1979 and 1983 under the alliance between the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP).
Sen. Victor Lar said the late Pam “brought respectability and honour to the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate.”