From Ameachi Prosper (The New Diplomat’s Delta Correspondent)
There has been an outpouring of eulogies for a late former Delta state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dafe Akpedeye, SAN at the weekend as many people paid their tributes to the deceased while he was being laid to rest.
Among those who paid tributes include politicians, members of the clergy, members of the Bar, and persons drawn from diverse professional background.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State, Mr Peter Mrakpor, in his tributes to the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, in the state, late Dafe Akpedeye, described him as a philanthropist per excellence.
Mrakpor spoke on behalf of the bodies of former Attorney- Generals of Delta at a valedictory court session in honour of late Akpedeye, at the High Court of Justice, Effurun. He said deceased was a great mentor to his protégés and all who passed through his portals.
“With deep and painful sense of loss, we are gathered here today to pay our last respect to one of our own, a learned Silk, Dafe Akpedeye, SAN, OFR, C. Arb, KSM, whose pilgrimage on planet came to an abrupt end on the 5th day of October, 2020 after a protracted illness.”
He added that while on earth, “Dafe was never given to hypocrisy, pretence, dishonesty, remarking that Dafe attained the highest water mark of his achievements when in 2014, he was conferred with the prestigious honour -officer of the order of the Federal Republic (OFN) by President Goodluck Jonathan.
“In 2007, he was appointed as the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Delta State, an office where he made landmark achievements, initiating lasting reforms which others after him have built on. Among his notable achievements is the codification of the laws of Delta State, launched in 2017 with its first ever annotated laws of Delta which he gave freely to law officers in the ministry of Justice to boost their practice and performance in court”
“It would also be remembered for purchasing official vehicles for Directors in the ministry of justice, which was unprecedented. It is also noteworthy that for the first time in the annals of the ministry, he instituted reward and presentations of prices to outstanding legal officers across the department and zones to serve as motivation for improvements performance and service delivery,” Mrakpor stated.
He, however, prayed God to grant the Akpedeye’s the fortitude to bear the loss and also grant the soul of Dafe Akpedeye eternal repose.
On his part, the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, Effurun branch, Mr Jonathan Ekperusi, said, “Today, we celebrate the life of Dafe Akpedeye SAN. For us in Effurun Branch of the NBA, we celebrate a pillar of pride, an anchor of hope, a. rallying point.”
He said that the move for the creation of the Effurun branch was met with stiff resistance but Akpedeye waded into the matter and it was resolved amicably, adding that the departed lawyer deeply enriched the practice of law within and beyond Effurun Branch.
Most Rev Dr John Afareha, who preached at the funeral mass at St Jude Catholic Church, Effurun, said, “Dafe was a jolly good fellow. He was very steadfast in all that he does and in his Christian doctrine.”
He added that Dafe was equally generous to everyone who demanded his assistance and very supportive to the cause of humanity.
“He was a very great and strong senior advocate of Nigeria whose birth is a reality and blessings to mankind,” Afareha stated.
Late Dafe Akpedeye, who hailed from Uwheru in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, was born to the family of Chief Abel O. Akpedeye. He is survived by his wife and children.
