BENIN CITY – Edo State Government has commiserated with the family of Late Hon. Justice Andrew Otutu Obaseki, JSC (Retired) BSMA, CFR, the Obaseki of Benin Kingdom and Head of the Obaseki family of Benin and the diaspora.
In a condolence message to the Obaseki Ogbeide-Doyo family, signed by the Secretary to Edo State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, the judicial career of the Late Obaseki of Benin Kingdom was described as remarkable and worthy of emulation.
The SSG recalled with pride and nostalgia the ascent of the late Justice Obaseki to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which he said was marked with ground breaking judicial precedents and notable pronouncements.
Citing classical cases such as “Governor of Lagos State V. Ojukwu, Garba V. University of Maiduguri; Obeko V. Olowu and Awolowo V. Shagari, the SSG said “the principles of fair hearing, natural justice, rule of law and the protectiuon of the citizen from extra-judicial acts of government, were laid down, and to this day, form the bedrock of our jurisprudence”.
Mr. Ogie noted that “the pioneering and ground breaking achievements of Justice Obaseki as the first Edo man to sit at the Apex court led the way and cleared path for other Edo legal icons as Hon. Justice Omorose Ibukun Akpata (of blessed memory) and Hon. Justice S.F. Uwaifo to bring honour to the state.
The SSG said while the state mourns the passing of late Justice Obaseki, there is consolation in his exemplary life of distinguished service; adding “we also celebrate the fact that Justice Obaseki lived long enough to see his family continue its record of distinguished public service by producing the current Governor of our state, His Excellency, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki.”
