The Supreme Court of Nigeria has announced the death of Justice Nwali Ngwuta.

The Apex Court said he died by 2.30am on Sunday, March 7, 2021.

A statement by the Chief Registrar Supreme Court of Nigeria, Hadizatu Mustapha, said he was due to retire from the Supreme Court bench on attaining mandatory retirement age of 70 years on March 30, 2021.

The statement reads partly, “He felt sick and was admitted in the last one week at the National Hospital, Abuja, but before he was moved to the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital on Friday, March 5, he tested negative to COVID-19.

“Justice Ngwuta was due to retire from the Supreme Court bench on attaining mandatory retirement age of 70 years on March 30, 2021.

“Justice Ngwuta, who was appointed Supreme Court Justice on March 22, 2011, was born on March 30, 1951, in the Amofia-Ukawu, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Meanwhile, the President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday mourned Ngwuta.

Buhari’s condolence message was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled, ‘President Buhari mourns Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta.’

The statement reads partly, “The President joins people and government of Ebonyi State, Nigeria Bar Association and members of the Bench in mourning the legal luminary, regretting that the death of the eminent Justice will leave a gap in the Supreme Court, considering his experience and dedication to interpretation of the constitution.

 “President Buhari believes Justice Ngwuta lived and served the country with his knowledge of the law.”

Similarly, the House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary mourned Ngwuta on Sunday.

The Chairman of the committee, Mr Onofiok Luke, in a statement said, “Justice Ngwuta was an intellectual and a legal icon whose legacies and influence straddled different legal circles and ecosystems. His track record bespeaks a man of hard work, discipline and commitment.

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