Delta State former Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has described the death of Justice Niki Tobi as a loss to Delta State, the entire South-South geo-political zone and Nigeria as a whole.
In a statement by his Media Assistant, Tony Eluemunor, the ex-governor said that the late Tobi was a star jurist who singularly prepared for the great task of being a Judge through uncommon academic exertions, which saw him become not only a Professor of Law at the University of Maiduguri, but even became a Deputy-Vice Chancellor.
With that singular background, Niki Tobi became a teacher, giving priceless lessons to the nation, through his incisive judgments.
Ibori said that as great a jurist as Niki Tobi was, there was another aspect of him that Nigerians may have remained unaware of; his exceptional integrity. Ibori said that it was a sad commentary on Nigeria’s institutional memory that people have forgotten the heroic role Niki Toby played as Chairman of the National Political Reforms Conference, NPRC, organised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005. Niki Toby was called into the highest echelons of the corridors of power and was given a rogue document which he was asked to transform into the Conference’s Report.
The “Mr. Integrity” in Niti Tobi could not stomach such. He replied that he would do no such thing and opted to resign so that government could search for another chairman to defraud the nation. Such heroism cum nationalism, he said should never be forgotten.
Ibori sends his condolences to Niki Tobi’s family, asking his survivors to remain proud of the name Niki Tobi has left behind. He also condoled Delta State over the loss of so illustrious a son. Also, he condoled Nigerian judiciary over the loss of one of its guiding stars, as he prayed that God may grant Niki Tobi eternal rest.
