By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
One of Nigeria’s most accomplished lawyers and lawmaker, Senator Onyeabo Chukwunedum Obi, is dead.
Obi, a Life Bencher, died on Tuesday aged 82.
Announcing his death on a social media platform this morning, his younger brother, who is also a lawyer, Mr. Zik Obi, said: “Good morning All, Pending a formal announcement from the family later today, I wish to personally inform members of Otu Oka Iwu that my eldest brother and past President of Otu Oka Iwu and Bencher, Senator Onyeabo Obi, Os’oji Nnewi, passed on to greater glory yesterday at the age of 82 years. We are grateful to God for his life.
“Kindly note that due to the current COVID-19 safety protocols, physical condolence visits are not necessary or encouraged. Thank you so much.
“Best regards. Zik Obi.”
The respected jurist was said to have attended the last Ofala Festival of Igwe Orizu of Nnewi.
Before then, he chaired the virtual meeting of his former employee and former Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief George Uwechue, SAN.
In one of the early reactions on his passing, veteran politician and lawyer, Chief Guy Ikokwu said: “This is shocking as I had the last meeting with him at our Enugu Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Imeobi meeting and took pictures with him and Nwodo Jnr., our PG Ohanaeze Ndigbo and wished he will show up at Owerri meeting of 9th January. What a pity. Terrible as we had a heart to heart chat. May he rest in perfect peace.”
Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, Mr. Okey Ilofulunwa wrote: “Ugwunnia, please do accept my deepest condolences on the death of Senator Onyeabo Obi. He was a quintessential gentleman and a bar man through and through. My last interaction with him was on December 10, 2020 during a webinar on International human rights day which I hosted and moderated. He was in the element and participated actively at the event and made incisive contributions. Your family will miss him but the legal community will miss him greatly. I join in praying for the repose of his soul.”
Human rights lawyer, Chief Frank Agbedo said: “Not again, lord! Os’oji Nnewi only recently chaired the birthday colloquium in honor of Chief Uwechue SAN, and was his full witty and cerebral self, as usual. Lord, please shut the door against this morbid breeze depleting our most cherished stock. No doubt Chief Onyeabor Obi was a great man of style, culture and the law, and departs this sinful world to a better place. We mourn, even as we celebrate a great life well lived for the greater good of mankind.”
Born on November 20, 1938 in Ogidi, Anambra State, to the famous Chief Z.C. Obi, he was educated at the London School of Economics, London University.
He served as Director of Nigerian Rubber Board (1977-1979) and was elected Senator in the Second Republic (1979-1983), where he served as Chairman, Senate Committee on Procedures for Settling Disputes.
He was a close political ally of former Vice President, late Dr. Alex Ekwueme.