By Emmanuel Onwubiko
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late retired Supreme Court Justice Emmanuel Obioma Ogwuegbu, describing him as a towering symbol of judicial integrity, a formidable defender of human rights, and a custodian of constitutional democracy. In a strong tribute issued on Monday in Abuja, HURIWA called for urgent national and state-level recognition of the jurist’s extraordinary contributions, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Imo State Government to immortalize his legacy.
Justice Ogwuegbu, who passed away recently at the age of 91 and is slated for burial in May 2025, left behind a towering record of landmark judgments that expanded the frontiers of civil liberties, rule of law, and democratic governance in Nigeria. HURIWA described him as “a giant of the law, a scholar of justice, and a custodian of human dignity whose body of work must be institutionalized for the education of future generations.”
The rights group highlighted Justice Ogwuegbu’s landmark contributions to jurisprudence, especially in safeguarding human rights and resisting political interference, noting that his judgments remain reference points in Nigerian constitutional and human rights law. Among them, HURIWA referenced the celebrated case of Chief Gani Fawehinmi v. Inspector General of Police (2002), where Justice Ogwuegbu firmly affirmed Nigerians’ right to freedom of association and political participation without arbitrary interference by security agencies.
Similarly, though he served later at the Supreme Court, his judicial philosophy aligned with the Court’s rebuke of executive lawlessness in the Military Governor of Lagos State v. Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu (1986) case, a stance he championed consistently throughout his judicial career. Further cementing his legacy, in the case of A.G. Lagos State v. A.G. Federation (2003), his contributions helped uphold the autonomy of states within Nigeria’s federal structure, ensuring protection against undue federal interference.
“These judgments and others like them form the bedrock of Nigeria’s modern human rights and constitutional law framework,” HURIWA stated. “It is imperative that Justice Ogwuegbu’s monumental contributions are not forgotten but celebrated, studied, and emulated.”
Beyond his national impact, HURIWA lamented the relative neglect of South-East heroes, particularly from Imo State, by successive governments. The association pointed out that despite their global legal stature, figures like Justice Chukwudifu Oputa and now Justice Emmanuel Ogwuegbu have been under-celebrated at home. “It is deeply regrettable that Imo State has not institutionalized the legacies of its greatest judicial minds like Justice Oputa and Justice Ogwuegbu. These men are international icons. A people who forgets their heroes mortgage their future,” HURIWA warned.
HURIWA therefore called on the Imo State Government to design and implement programs that immortalize these icons, recommending the introduction of special curricular initiatives within the state’s secondary schools. “This could take the form of a three-to-six-month civic education module, showcasing how individuals of great integrity shaped Nigeria’s legal and democratic heritage,” the group proposed.
The association also spotlighted Justice Ogwuegbu’s remarkable personal integrity, citing his rejection of a bribe attempt in the early 1980s when he turned down a brand-new Range Rover offered by a desperate political party seeking to influence an upcoming governorship tribunal. HURIWA stressed that, at a time when judicial corruption and political compromises are rampant, his unblemished record of honor should be celebrated and taught to younger generations.
“Justice Ogwuegbu belonged to a generation of Nigerian jurists who saw judicial office as a divine calling, not a transactional enterprise,” HURIWA said. “His story is a moving reminder that not all hope is lost in the quest for a Nigeria where integrity is prized above personal gain.”
HURIWA further canvassed for President Tinubu to confer a posthumous national honor, such as the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), on the late jurist. “President Tinubu must demonstrate that Nigeria still recognizes true heroes. Justice Ogwuegbu’s fearless contributions to human rights and rule of law deserve a national honor posthumously,” the association asserted.
Highlighting Justice Ogwuegbu’s robust defense of judicial independence during the highly contentious 1983 electoral tribunal season, HURIWA recounted how he resisted partisan forces seeking to influence his rulings, opting instead for the harder path of integrity. The group emphasized that his fearless choices serve as a beacon of hope in today’s climate, where the judiciary’s independence is under scrutiny.
The association quoted rights activist Chidi Odinkalu, who recalled how Justice Ogwuegbu once turned away overtures from the ruling National Party of Nigeria, refusing costly gifts and opting out of an election tribunal assignment to protect his integrity. “In a time when judicial appointments are more associated with political loyalty than moral and intellectual merit, Justice Ogwuegbu’s example is a lighthouse for those who truly wish to reform the Nigerian judiciary,” HURIWA added.
Beyond merely naming streets or buildings after him, HURIWA emphasized that true honor lies in embedding Justice Ogwuegbu’s legacy into the consciousness of young Nigerians. “A structured, story-driven curriculum module that captures the essence of Justice Ogwuegbu’s and others’ contributions should be introduced in secondary schools across Imo State and beyond,” the group maintained.
In its concluding remarks, HURIWA warned that without honoring men like Justice Ogwuegbu, Nigeria risks losing its sense of public morality. “Countries that succeed globally are those that celebrate values and character, not just wealth and noise,” the association stated.
As Justice Emmanuel Obioma Ogwuegbu’s funeral approaches in May 2025, HURIWA insisted that both the federal and Imo State governments have a moral and national duty to ensure his life and example are not merely remembered but institutionalized for posterity..
* Onwubiko is
National Coordinator,
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA).
