The Nation Newspaper

Tag: dies

  • Cleric dies at 84

    Cleric dies at 84

    The death has occurred of Ven. Samuel Afolabi Adebayo of Osi-Ekiti in Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State. He died on June 8. He was 84.

    The deceased was one of the dedicated teachers at Christ School, Ado-Ekiti in the late 70s and early 80s.

    He worked as a clergyman in Ilesa and as an archdeacon in many Anglican churches, including Ikere, Ise, Ijero–Ekiti, among others before retiring in the late 80s.

    Ven. Adebayo is survived by many children and great grandchildren, including Mrs. Ayo Sotonwa of the Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation.

    Funeral programme will be announced later.

     

  • Warri Wolves’ coach Francis Temele dies

    Warri Wolves’ assistant coach Francis Temele is dead.

    SportingLife learnt yesterday that coach Temele died on Thursday after a brief illness. He is survived by a wife and two children.

    Temele until his death was member of the Warri Wolves technical crew. He was the head coach of the club’s junior team, a position he was appointed to this season.

    Fransis Temele was from a great Delta football family. His older brother Clement Temele played for the Green Eagles. Other members of the family include Frank Temele, who plays in Ukraine, and Omonigo Temele, a member of the national Under 17 team to Trinidad and Tobago in 2001.

  • Activist -lawyer Aturu dies at 49

    Activist -lawyer Aturu dies at 49

    NiGERIANS, especially the human rights community were in shock last night when the news of the death of activist lawyer Bamidele Aturu filtered in.

    According to close associates, the lawyer suddenly took ill yesterday morning after he complained of stress and fatigue and was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja where he died in the evening.

    Tributes have continued to pour in for the late lawyer.  Many described him as a dogged fighter and compassionate person who fought for the under privileged and the poor.

    Chief Niyi Akintola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said Aturu’s death was a rude shock. “He was a principled person, a dogged fighter to a default who believed in using law as a means of social engineering to change the society for the better.”

    Akintola said Aturu came before his time, saying  his commitment to the law profession was thorough. “I led him in many cases, one of them was the election petition of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, he manned the computer when we were preparing the brief, he never complained of working from 12 am to 12pm,” he said.

    A close ally of the late lawyer and fellow rights activist, Festus Keyamo couldn’t control his emotion when contacted. However he managed to say “I am short of word, I am devastated, this is sad.”

    Also, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikorodu branch, Adedotun Adetunji said Aturu’s reputation as a human rights activist was second to none. “We were mates at the Nigerian Law School; he was a good friend and brilliant scholar. We have lost a rare gem, a legal guru.”

    The immediate past chairman of NBA, Ikeja, Monday Ubani, described the late Aturu as a man of integrity who also believed passionately in the nation. “He believed very much in seeing a country that is run in a manner that is very efficient and that is why he committed his life to the struggle of getting things done in the right manner,” he said.

  • Arisekola-Alao’s wife dies in road crash

    Arisekola-Alao’s wife dies in road crash

    Wife of the late Deputy President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (SCIA) and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, Jelilat, yesterday in a road accident.

    She was 63. Her remains were buried yesterday afternoon at her Apata home.

    The rear tyre of her car burst and skipped off the road in Ibadan. It ended in a ditch. She was returning to Ibadan Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    After the accident, she was  rushed to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

    Until her death, the deceased was dealing in textile materials.

    The sad event occurred fifteen days after the death of her husband.

    The Arisekola-Alao family house was thrown into mourning all through yesterday. Symphatisers trooped into the Oluwo Kekere Bashorun, Ibadan home of the deceased on hearing of the tragedy.

    Her death coincided with  preparations for the 40th day Fidau to round off the burial rite for the late philanthropist.

  • Magistrate dies in prison

    A magistrate in Enugu State, Mrs. Ifeoma Nneji, yesterday reportedly died inside a cell in Enugu prison.

    The deceased was said to have died of complications arising from shock.

    She was remanded in prison with her husband, Mr. Ifeanyi Nneji, on Monday after they were arraigned for “conspiracy, false information and attempted murder.”

    The deceased served at the Oji River Magisterial District before she was suspended by the Judicial Service Commission for alleged involvement in the abduction of a nine-year-old girl.

    Prison sources said she became ill about 24 hours after she arrived at the prison following her remand by an Enugu Magistrate’s Court for allegedly assaulting a female tenant living in her husband’s house.

    The woman, her husband and another unnamed person living with them were said to have allegedly beaten and injured the tenant over an undisclosed quarrel, which resulted in the arraignment and remand of the couple.

    The Comptroller of Enugu Prison, Mr. Alloy Uchenna, confirmed the death of the magistrate, but said the Deputy Comptroller in-charge of the prison was yet to brief him on what happened.

    Police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said Mrs. Nneji and her husband were re-arraigned for another case of conspiracy, false information and attempted murder on Monday and were later remanded.

  • Glazer, Manchester United owner, dies

    Glazer, Manchester United owner, dies

    Manchester United owner Malcolm Glazer has died at the age of 85.

    The American businessman also owned NFL franchise the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

    Glazer purchased Manchester United in 2005 and in that time saw the club win the Premier League five times and the Champions League once.

    He died on Wednesday at home in America.

  • Oputa dies at 90

    Oputa dies at 90

    •Tributes for ‘Nigeria’s Lord Denning’

    A LEGAL giant departed yesterday, setting off a rain of tributes.

    Former Supreme Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, revered by many as Nigeria’s Lord Denning for the philosophical depth of his  decisions, died “peacefully” after recovering from a brief illness.

    Lawyers described the late justice as a legal colossus who would not only be missed by the judiciary but by the country.

    A statement by his son, the singer Charles Oputa (Charley Boy), said: “The family of Justice Chukwudifu Oputa wishes to announce the passing to glory of the eminent jurist and retired justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria at the age of 90 years.

    “He passed on peacefully on Sunday afternoon 4th May 2014 after recovering from a brief illness. Funeral arrangements will soon be released by the family.”

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, his deputy Eze Madumere and other prominent Imo State indigenes lamented the exit of the foremost jurist.

    Madumere described the passing of Justice Oputa as a huge loss to the Igbo nation and the country.

    In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha described the late Oputa as one of the foremost jurists Nigeria has ever produced, adding that he was a good ambassador of the Igbo nation.

    Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi said Justice Oputa was the Lord  Denning of Nigeria. “If the great biographer, Plutarch, were alive today to write lives by parallel, he would find no difficulty pairing Lord Alfred Denning and our own Justice Oputa.

    “Both approached law more from jurisprudence, insisting on examining the philosophical underpinnings of different laws and interpreting them in manners to serve the needs of man and the society in the most just manner,” Obi said.

    He said the greatest service to the memory of great sages, such as Justice Oputa, was to make their   wisdom function actively in the society through the preservation of their legacies.

    Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) said the late Justice Oputa was known for his philosophical reasoning.

    “Oh my God! That was the Socrates of the Supreme Court! He did not only understand the law as a justice of the Supreme Court, he applied the philosophy of law.

    “His reasons for his judgments were often illuminating. He made law look like mathematics. He was the original source of the expression that justice is a three-way traffic – justice to the accused, justice to the victim and justice to the public.

    “I enjoyed reporting his judgments when I was a law reporter. The Bar and Bench and the public would miss him.”

    Chief Anthony Idigbe described Oputa’s death as a huge loss. “O! What a loss for the nation. He was a great jurist who impacted our jurisprudence. He was my father’s classmate at CKC Onitsha. His other classmates there include the late Chief G.C.M Onyiuke (SAN).

    “A generation of committed patriots has passed with him. May God receive his soul with favour and grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss,” Idigbe said.

    Mr Mike Igbokwe (SAN) said Oputa contributed immensely to the development of the law.

    “Our nation and not just our judiciary have lost an iconic jurist who contributed immensely to the development of our law as a lawyer, author, judge, Chief Judge of Imo State and Justice of the Supreme Court.

    “Remember the Oputa Panel he presided over and what he achieved through that too. May his soul rest in peace and God give his family the fortitude to bear the loss,” Igbokwe said.

    A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) said: “God gave us this legal icon. God has taken him away. May God be praised.”

    Mr Dele Belgore (SAN) said: “His Lordship will be remembered for the depth of his research and the thoroughness of his judgments. He wasn’t a jurist who glossed over issues and his numerous judgments which will live long after him attest to this. Justice Oputa’s place in our jurisprudence is certainly assured.”

    Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN) said: “Justice Oputa was a great jurist of our time. From his decisions in the apex court, judges and counsel have drawn inspiration and strength for future decisions and judgments in like or similar cases.

    “Though he has long retired and now dead, his judicial pronouncements remain with us as a guide. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

    Mrs Funke Adekoya (SAN) said the Bar has lost its Lord Denning. “The Bar has lost another of its icons, our own Lord Denning. He was one of the greatest philosopher-judges Nigeria has produced and his judgments always displayed interplay between law and morality.

    “He has gone to rest, but remains with us through his judgments and legal writings.”

    Former NBA Lagos Branch Chairman Taiwo O. Taiwo said: “It’s so sad to hear of his death. He was one of the titans for civil rights at the Supreme Court and his pronouncements at the apex court no doubt endeared him to many lawyers.

    “His views on human rights especially on fair hearing will remain evergreen. His views were no only restricted to law but beyond. He was not known as Socrates for fun. He was indeed a deep mind.  May his soul rest in peace!”

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has described as “sad and unquantifiable loss” the death of late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.

    He said: “Nigeria has lost one of her brightest legal luminaries. He was an upright, courageous, intelligent, patriotic jurist and elder statesman.

    “Although, he lived to a ripe age, but how I wish he lived longer because his kind comes once in a blue moon. The nation will miss him sorely.”

  • Family of seven dies in sleep

    An employee of the Nigerian Breweries Plc, his wife and five  children, have been found dead in their home.

    The remains of the man, Etim Edet and those of members of his family, were discovered a few days after they had died in their sleep at their residence in Badigo, Ijede in Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb.

    It was gathered that their neighbours, who did not see any member of the family for days, attempted to find out what was wrong. “After knocking for a long time without any response, they left, wondering what must have happened to them,” a source told The Nation yesterday.

    “However, as they went close to their own apartments, they perceived an offensive odour, which prompted them to inform the police,” the source added.

    It was gathered that policemen broke the door and discovered the decomposing bodies of members of the family on their beds.

    Police spokesperson  Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), confirmed the incident.

    She said at about 4pm on May 1, The Workers’ Day, there was a report at Ijede Police Station that seven members of a family were suspected dead in their home in Ikorodu.

    “Operatives moved in and Edet was allegedly found dead with his wife and five children on their beds at his residence in the Bagido area of Ijede. No sign of violence was seen on their bodies. The victims were suspected to have died from generator fumes,” she added.

    Braide, who said their bodies had been moved to Ikorodu General Hospital’s mortuary for autopsy, added that the incident “is under investigation at the Ijede Division.”

  • The Ultimate Warrior dies at 54

    The Ultimate Warrior dies at 54

    James Brian Hellwig, who earned a global following as professional wrestler The Ultimate Warrior, died on Tuesday night, World Wrestling Entertainment announced.

    Hellwig was 54. TMZ reported that Hellwig — who officially changed his name to Warrior in 1993 — “collapsed outside an Arizona hotel at 5:50 pm on April 8th … while walking to his car with his wife. Warrior was transported to a nearby hospital … where he was pronounced dead.”

    Hellwig’s death comes only three days after The Ultimate Warrior was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, and just one day after Hellwig made an appearance on WWE’s “Raw,” his first appearance on the show since 1996.

    According to WWE, The Ultimate Warrior was “one of the most iconic WWE Superstars ever,” joined the organisation in 1987 and three years later was world champion, defeating Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI at SkyDome in Toronto. The match, billed as the “Ultimate Challenge,” lived up to the billing in the eyes of most, a common staple in lists of greatest wrestling matches of all time.

  • Sir Alan Bates dies at 69

    Sir Alan Bates dies at 69

    Notable actor, Sir Alan Bates, is dead.

    He died of cancer at a London hospital on Saturday night. The death of the 69-year-old famous actor has, therefore, cast a pall on the entire acting world.

    He made his name between 1950s and 1960s with theatre performances in John Osborne’s Look Back In Anger and Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker.

    In films, he was, perhaps, best known for a nude wrestling scene with Oliver Reed in the 1969 film of D.H. Lawrence’s Women In Love. He appeared in more than 50 other movies, including Zorba The Greek in 1964 and Far From The Madding Crowd in 1967. He received a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance as a Russian Jew unjustly accused of murder in the 1968 film, The Fixer. Last year, he won the Screen Actors’ Guild Best Actor award for his role in Gosford Park.

    The son of an insurance broker and a housewife, Sir Alan was born in 1934 in Allestree, Derby. His musical parents tried to encourage him to pursue a career as a concert pianist. But when he was 11 years old, he discovered his real passion was acting. He took speech and acting lessons before winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he trained as a classical performer. Sir Alan’s studies were, however, interrupted by two years of national service in the RAF. Although he was a prolific screen performer, it is generally accepted that his best work was on the stage and television.

    He received the CBE in 1995 and was knighted in the 2003 New Year Honours list. He reportedly acknowledged, in at least one interview, that his appetite for work allowed him to survive two personal tragedies. His son, Tristan, died of an asthma attack in 1990 at the age of 19 and two years later, he lost his wife, actress Victoria Ford, after a suspected heart attack. After his son’s death, Sir Alan and Tristan’s twin, Benedick, established the Tristan Bates Theatre at the Actors’ Centre in Covent Garden, Central London.