Tributes have continued to trail yesterday’s death of eminent jurist, Justice Kayode Eso.
In a message by Dr. Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, President Goodluck Jonathan described the death of the retired Justice of Supreme Court as a great national loss, adding that the President received news of the death with sadness.
“Eso was an eminent jurist, a courageous judge and consistent advocate for an independent judiciary.
“His long and exemplary life was dedicated to the service of law and order, and the dispensation of true justice, equity and fairness to all.’’
The president, on behalf of himself and the Federal Government, extended heartfelt condolences to the Eso family, their friends, associates and the government and people of Osun State, urging them to take solace in the fact that Eso would forever be remembered as a very bold, fearless and courageous judge who contributed enormously to establishing the independence of the judiciary.
“Members of the legal profession owe a debt of gratitude to the late Eso for his immense legacy of learned, erudite and seminal judgments, prodigious writings and major interventions in national debates.
“He urged members of the bar and bench to emulate the dedication, discipline, integrity and activism that Eso exemplified, even up to old age.’’
In his message, Senate President, David Mark, described the death of the Supreme Court Justice as a monumental loss to the nation, especially the Judiciary.
Mark, who reacted to the death of the foremost jurist, lamented that the country has lost one of the best and fertile minds in the judiciary.
A statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to Senate President, Kola Ologbondiyan, quoted Mark as saying that Late Eso was one of the proponents of the legal reforms that ushered in the era of dignity and the independence of the nation’s judicial system.
“As a legal officer and jurist, Eso was a voice for the voiceless. He defended the defenceless and was there for the oppressed.
“He was forthright and a distinguished officer. Nobody doubted his integrity and where he stood on national issues were clearly unambiguous. He was a patriotic Nigerian.”
National leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said the death of Justice Kayode Eso has left a gaping hole that can never be filled in the Nigerian judiciary.
“Nigeria has lost in Justice Eso a golden heart and an irrepressible soul burning with justice, fairness and equity. He packed so many good traits: scholarship, character, modesty, boldness, honesty, integrity and candour. He was the quintessential judicial role model,” he said.
Tinubu called on the Eso family to be comforted, saying that their patriarch was a Nigerian gift to the Justice universe.
“His loss is no doubt painful. But you must rejoice in this gift to the world. Even as you grieve, you must thank God for this rare gift, who has nevertheless, been called by his creator, after he had lived to a ripe old age,” he said, adding that Justice Eso was one of the “classical,” justices in the golden age of Nigeria’s Supreme Court.
“Our Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, once famously declared that justice was the first condition of humanity. But Justice Esho was one of those that ensured, through his wisdom and rigour of judicial pronouncements, that basic justice never escaped the average Nigerian, even if he served for most part under military rule. He ensured that justice was done, even if the heavens would fall.”
Tinubu described Justice Esho as a patriot-guide, who by the instrumentality of the law, pointed his compatriots to the right way, and insisting on the rule of law.
“Justice Eso never shirked his judicial responsibilities, even when the powers-that-be were involved. His minority judgment over the 1979 presidential election, in which he rejected the latter day idea that two-thirds of 19 states could be anything than 13, and nullifying President-elect Shehu Shagari’s election.”
Tinubu said Justice Eso was one of the justices that fired his administration in Lagos State to institute far-reaching judicial reforms, aimed at increasing access to justice and fastening the pace of the courts and ensuring fairness for all. He therefore called on all to preserve his legacy, but added: “We can only do that if all our judicial officers rededicate themselves to the cause of justice. That is the only way we can preserve the Esho legacy and make our country truly great.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also extolled the extraordinary virtues of integrity of the Late Justice Kayode Eso.
Atiku, in a statement by his media office in Abuja, said the late legal luminary was notable for his courage and integrity because of his role in saving the image of the judiciary from the nadir of moral eclipse.
As a judicial activist, he said the late Justice Kayode Eso was always on the side of justice, regardless of whose ox was gored.
The former Vice President also recalled that almost every administration in Nigeria had invited Eso to head one judicial inquiry or another because of the recognition that he was a rare man of probity.
According to Atiku, “honour counted above money in the eyes of the late Eso and even his enemies must privately find themselves admiring his unique uprightness.”
He said Eso deserved a special place in the pantheon of Nigeria’s judicial heroes and that judges and lawyers should imbibe his virtues to make our judiciary more vibrant, unbiased and fearless.
