The Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has described the transition of former Supreme Court judge, Justice Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte to eternal life as a deep loss not only for Nigeria but the world in general.
In a condolence message signed by him, Senator Omo-Agege who is also the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) caucus in South-South geo-political zone reminisced on the warm memories of Karibi-Whyte’s profound and impactful contributions at state, national and international levels which he said are endowments that would help mitigate the loss.
He said:“He lived a long, highly productive life but even upon his exit at 88, the retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Professor of Law, Justice Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte, CFR, profoundly impacted Rivers State, Nigeria and the global community with cerebral contributions in his chosen field.
“It could be easier for many to remember his very significant contributions as a Justice of the Supreme Court and as Judge and Vice-President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia at The Hague but his noble impact pre-dated those assignments.
“The quality of his interpersonal relationships and intellectual achievements through Kalabari National College in Buguma, Rivers State which he left in 1950, the two United Kingdom universities where he studied before coming to the University of Lagos for his Ph.D. eloquently attest to his towering capacity.
“His service records at the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, the Federal Revenue Court, Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and on numerous national assignments that included chairmanship of both the Nigerian Constitutional Conference of 1994-1995 and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) speak of uncommon diligence and patriotic focus.
“I pray that God Almighty will grant the soul of our dear Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, eternal rest and comfort the family left behind.”
Recall that Justice Karibi-Whyte, who also served as a chairman of the 1994-1995 Constitutional Conference died on Friday at the age of 88. The late eminent former Supreme Court Judge was born on January 29, 1932 in Abonnema of present day Rivers State.