Eso’s death, a great national loss – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday said he received the news of the death of Justice Kayode Eso (retd.) with sadness and a feeling of great national loss.

Jonathan made the comment in a statement made available by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.

The President said even at old age, Eso displayed commendable patriotism by constantly being ready to take on national assignments whenever he was called upon to do so.

The statement read, “On behalf of himself and the Federal Government, (President) Jonathan extends heartfelt condolences to the Eso family, their friends, associates and the government and people of Osun State as they mourn the eminent jurist, courageous judge and consistent advocate for an independent judiciary, whose long and exemplary life was dedicated to the service of law and order, and the dispensation of true justice, equity and fairness to all.

“He urges them to take solace in the incontestable fact that Justice Eso will forever be remembered as a very bold, fearless and courageous judge, who contributed enormously to establishing the independence of the Nigerian judiciary, and the national effort to entrench the highest levels of professionalism, discipline and integrity in the country’s legal system.

“President Jonathan believes that members of the legal profession in Nigeria will always owe a debt of gratitude to the late Justice Eso for his immense legacy of learned, erudite and seminal judgements, prodigious writings and major interventions in national debates on and outside the Bench which will always be remembered for their incisiveness, thoroughness, intellectual touch and impact.”

He prayed that God would grant the soul of the revered jurist eternal rest.

Similarly, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State described the passage of Eso as another great loss to the nation and the judiciary in particular.

He said Eso’s exit, coming a few days after the death of a former governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina, and the strongman of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki, had robbed Nigerian legal jurisprudence of a great mind.

He said Eso, a legal iconoclast, played his part in promoting the cause of justice and rule of law, doing it with passion that had no equal.

Also, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. David Iyofor, described Eso as an accomplished jurist, a rare breed with sharp intellect, who always stood on the side of the law and what was right.

He lauded Eso’s enormous contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s legal and justice system and the good work he did as a justice of the Supreme Court.

“Justice Eso was a man of uncommon virtues. His work in the Supreme Court would not be easily forgotten. Most important to us here in Rivers State was his commitment to the Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which he chaired, contributing to the return of peace and sanity to the state,” he said.

His Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, also in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, described Eso as “an incomparable legal giant whose contributions to jurisprudence will remain indelible in Nigeria and Africa.”

The governor said Eso was “an impartial, incorruptible and fearless judge, who did justice to all cases before him regardless of the personalities involved.”

Describing the late jurist as “the conscience of the nation’s judiciary,” Fayemi recalled that Eso was fothright in arriving at his decisions as a judicial officer and never allowed anybody to initimidate him.

He stated that Eso’s death had created a big void in the league of eminent Nigerian jurists, whose counsel and contributions would be crucial as the nation embarked on another round of constitution amendment process.

From Delta State, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan said the nation had lost a true patriot, a statesman and a professional to the core.

He prayed that God should grant the family and the nation the fortitude to bear the loss.

On his part, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State said the passing of the retired Justice of the Supreme Court was a monumental loss to the judicial profession and the country at large.

He said, “(Justice Kayode) Eso was one of the brightest justices Nigeria has ever produced. I can recall some of the landmark judgements he had delivered, all of which had helped in furthering the course of justice and the rule of law.

“He was one of the greatest protagonists of the independence of the judiciary. He was also known for his avowed commitment to maintaining discipline in the judiciary and ensuring that its integrity was not compromised.

“He was very brilliant, articulate, colourful, charismatic and outstanding. He brought finesse into the judiciary and the legal profession. He was an incorruptible judge.”

The governor said he was particularly saddened by the passage of the celebrated jurist because he (Eso) lived most of his adult life in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, adding that he would miss the wise counsel of the retired Supreme Court justice.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State expressed his condolences to Eso’s widow, Mrs. Helen Aina Eso, describing the deceased as one of the most fearless, courageous and incorruptible jurists ever to sit on the Supreme Court bench.

He said Eso had been described as one of the most erudite judges Nigeria has produced and the nation’s closest answer to the famed Lord Denning.

“His mastery and elegant use of the English language elevated the reading of judgements to the level of an experience, and will continue to be a reference point for many generations of lawyers,” Fashola said.

He noted that the death “symbolised the end of an era of unquestionable integrity and intellectual ability, passion for justice and the rule of law and a bold and consistent campaign for a corrupt-free judiciary.”