Justice Obaseki’s Burial Begins in Benin City

Activities marking the burial of late Justice Andrews Otutu Obaseki, the Obaseki of Benin Kingdom, began yesterday in Benin City, the Edo State capital, with a special valedictory court session at the state High Court.

The Obaseki who was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria between 1977 and 1991, and also served as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria at various times, died on July 13, 2017 at his Benin City residence.

Speaking at the special valedictory session, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, who was represented by Justice Ejembi Ekpo, said Obaseki participated in 658 judgments comprising 126 lead judgments, 530 concurring judgments and two dissenting judgments while at the Supreme Court.

Justice Onnoghen said the deceased pronouncements set down ground breaking precedents in the area of the protection of citizens from extrajudicial acts of governments, the principle of fair hearing and natural justice.

Also speaking, Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Esohe Frances Ikponmwen, described late Justice Obaseki as a colossus and giant that bestrode the bench from the lower rung to the apex court in Nigeria.

Justice Ikponmwen who was represented by Justice Ikponmwoba Ehigiamusoe also said late Justice Obaseki was a man of great letter and words.

Ikponmwen noted that it was fitting for Justice Obaseki to be honoured at the High Court complex because he ensured things were put in place for the judiciary when he was the Chief Justice of the Midwest-Western Region.

She further described him as a very calm and sober jurist who belonged to the golden generation of Supreme Court Justices.

“He was an administrator of the National Judicial Institute, a traditional chief. He had in his heart a compelling passion to accomplish justice. He possessed an indispensable mental capacity to translate that passion for justice into the actuality of fair, lucid and righteous judgement.

“He was on judge who showed this passion for justice so steadfastly and so indomitably. He revered the bench bringing to dignity. He took no short cut and made the full journey to the apex court,” she said.

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who is also a nephew of Justice Obaseki, recalled how the man he called daddy found one of his cousins guilty in a case he presided over as a show of respect for fairness and justice.

Meanwhile, the federal government has disclosed that it has demanded the details of the expenditure of N30 billion from ASUU, as a precondition for the release of N23 billion being requested for, by the striking union.

It also refused to back down from its insistence that the universities would not be excluded from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), despite the opposition of ASUU, which declared an indefinite strike last Monday, following the non implementation of the 2009 agreement.

The Minister of Education, Adamu, while, speaking before the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education yesterday, however expressed hope that the strike would be called off next week, as negotiations are currently ongoing.

“They (ASUU) asked for N23 billion to be paid. But we said the condition for that N23 billion to be released, was for them to account for the N30 billion they had taken, and they were not able to account for it,” he said.

Adamu did not reveal when the N30 billion was given to the universities.

“The Minister of Finance undertook to do the audit from the ministry, and we agreed that the result will be known in six months. During that six months, government undertook to be paying them N1.5 billion each month during the time they are waiting for this. And their grouse was the forensic audit promised by the Minister of Finance had not been done and the money promised had not been paid,” he added.

The minister stated that at a meeting with the union early this week, some agreements were reached.

“So, at our meeting two days ago, our agreements were at follows. And we will pay them all and do forensic audit on the entire N53 billion. And that is what I tried to do yesterday (Wednesday). I wrote to the Minister of Finance and she has already approved and this money will be paid. Probably, by Monday, they will be able to receive the cheque,”

“There are other issues which we didn’t agree. And that was their request to be taken out of TSA. I told them that it is not possible because this is s new policy and government is not going to change it for anyone,” Adamu said.

The Minister blamed the authorities of the universities for recruiting staff without due process, as causing the shortfalls in salaries.

“Concerning their salary short fall, we said a lot of the reasons spring from what they are doing wrong. They go and do a lot of employment without proper authority. For instance, a university can just decide to go and recruit 50 people. And IPPIS is not aware. What they are going to get is the money they got last month, and it will not be sufficient for them. They normally spread it among the entire staff. Let’s say they pay 70 percent to 80 percent but that is their fault. So, institutions, we said, must now stop doing that. And they accepted,” he said.

”There is the issue of the registration of their pension commission. I think they have one or two issues to iron out with PENCOM. And I believe they will also be able to solve the problem within a week. The issue of renegotiation is already going on. And it is unaffected by what were have said and it will continue. From the way they received it, I think it is possible that the strike will be called off within a week maximum,” Adamu disclosed.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Jibrin Barau expressed hope that the strike would be resolved next week, as stated by the minister, so students can return to school.