By Valentine Amanze
The Anambra State former governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has described Justice James Ogebe as an exemplary jurist of all times.
Obi spoke during the launch of the autobiography of the octogenarian titled: “Justice Under the Shadow of the Almighty; My Life Sojourn to the Nigerian Supreme Court” to mark his 80th year anniversary at the weekend in Abuja.
Obi said that the decision to defy the threat from Coronavirus and attend the event was out of the highest regards he had for the jurist.
His words: “You may not know that Justice Ogebe was the person who returned me as governor after my impeachment in 2006. He did so without anybody telling me what I hate to hear, that one must do this or that.”
Obi said that he decided to honour him by his presence and as a way of expressing his belief that those that served Nigeria faithfully must be accorded the respect they deserve.
Obi also revealed that since he returned him in 2007 that he had not directly or indirectly bought a coffee for him, but that “occasions like this present opportunities for one to honour truth by honouring its purveyors.”
Bemoaning what he called the “crisis of values” affecting all sectors of the country, Obi said that people like Ogebe should be held high as examples worthy of emulation. Justice Ogebe retired from the Supreme Court in 2010.