Hon Justice Regina Obiageli Nwodo

CONDOLENCE MESSAGE

Dear Ike Ukehe,

                Words elude me. What do I say to you? Will I just say, “ndo, or I commiserate with you, or please bear it?” Oby’s death evokes fear in me. It really dawned on me that it was true when I saw you wearing a white moustache.

                I remember, with nostalgia, my first contact with Oby, then a young, tender, newly married princess, when you invited me to spend holidays with you in Lagos. That was my first visit to Lagos. I had then assigned myself the duty of cleaning the sitting room every morning, since it afforded me the opportunity of wondering about the technology behind TV remote control. Had I seen such a magic before? From the adjoining door, Oby would emerge and in a very soft tone ask, “Joe, have you eaten?” Food then was not my concern because touching and playing with all the gadgets around was enough nourishment.

                One sterling quality, innate to her, and similar to her mother-in-law, is her capacity to happily and easily receive guests and friends and care for their stomachs no matter the time of the day. It is an attribute that, in no distant time, we shall all begin to miss, and dearly so, in Igwe Nwodo’s family unless …………..

                When my wife, Ama, heard about your Oby’s transition to the Glory, she sobbed endlessly, and when calm, said, “Nnia would wish it was he that died.” I quickly responded that he essentially had died but he had to resurrect, yes – to acknowledge the praises and entreaties that would be Oby’s. Without exaggeration, she remains about the only Ukehe woman who has not been beaked (criticised) with bad mouths by Ukehe people.

                Dear Nnia, please accept my condolence, and that of my entire family. We share with you, your moments of grief. We pray, however, that the Good Lord will without delay, clean the tears off from your eyes, sinew your drooping and shattered heart and strengthen your mind to understand God’s love. Cry no more because Oby has gone to the Lord to bring you honours and blessings. May her spirit and love continue to radiate in you, Ijeoma and all her siblings and the entire Nwodo family.

                We also fervently pray that her soul shall obtain mercy and eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord.

Dr. Joe Nnamani

CJ/EB/S.13/VOL.I/122                                                       29^th August, 2013

Chief John Nnia Nwodo

Former Minister of Information,

Federal Republic of Nigeria

Dear Chief,

RE: PASSING AWAY OF YOUR LATE WIFE AND MY CLASSMATE HON JUSTICE REGINA OBIAGELI NWODO, JUSTICE OF THE COURT OF APPEAL

It is with deep sorrow that I express my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, legal fraternity and the people of Enugu State following the sudden and untimely demise of your wife, my Learned Brother and classmate Late Hon. Justice Regina Obiageli Nwodo  who submitted to the cold hands of death in London after a brief illness.

Hon. Justice Regina Obiageli Nwodo’s death has robbed the Nigerian Judiciary of a great legal icon and an astute adjudicator who loved Nigeria and had a passion for her job. The vacuum is too great to fill. 

During her lifetime, Hon. Justice Obiageli Nwodo was an epitome of excellence in all standards of human judgment. She replicated this excellence when she served as a magistrate in 1985 and she went on to hold other important and dignifying positions in the Judiciary including being a Chief Magistrate Grade 2, Deputy Chief Registrar (Enugu State High Court) and a Judge of the Federal High Court (Port Harcourt) until she was appointed Justice of the Court of Appeal in December 2007—a position she held till death.

As a Justice of the Court of Appeal she championed the cause of justice with all honesty, integrity and vigour. She also contributed much in the on-going reforms in the Nation’s Judiciary.

By your dear wife’s death, your family has lost a wife of unimpeachable integrity and a devoted mother; Nigerian women has lost one of her best in public office and our nation has lost an accomplished jurist who personified excellence in the service of our great country.

Be consoled on the fact that during your wife’s ephemeral sojourn on earth, she lived exemplary and a fulfilled life. In the midst of corrupt society, she held her head very high to the admiration of anyone who was opportune to come in contact with her. I therefore urge you to keep her legacies aglow.

On behalf of my family and the entire Ebonyi State Judiciary, I sincerely commiserate with you on this great loss and I pray the Almighty God to grant her eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord and to graciously fortify you to bear this irreparable loss.

Hon. Justice A. N. Nwankwo, MON, FCI Arb.

(Chief Judge, Ebonyi State)

alloynwankwo@yahoo.com

A TRIBUTE TO A COMPASSIONATE GODMOTHER

Mummy, the news of your sudden departure to the great beyond was calamitous. It was life-shattering especially in view of the amiable company I have always enjoyed ex gratia. Your towering status as an impeccable judge rather humbled you. Everyone had access to you and benefitted one way or the other from your philanthropy. If tears could bring you back, I would gladly donate them in tanks. I wonder how I and your acquaintances can cope without your loving company, advice and encouragements. The traces of success I have recorded in the academic environment were as a result of unedited assimilation of the pieces of the motherly advice and encouragements you gave me. I truly miss you sweet mummy.

However, I am fortified by the fact that you lived a virtuous life worthy of the saints in your ephemeral journey on earth. As a Judge, you exemplified “THE INCORRUPTIBLE JUDGE”. Your attainment of the best place in the bosom of the Lord is on the merit. I therefore commend you to the Almighty God for a peaceful repose in heaven where we shall meet to part no more.

Adieu mama!

Chidi Richard Nwankwo

University of Leeds

Chidinwankwo93@yahoo.com