Former justice of the Supreme Court Emmanuel Ogwuegbu has died aged 91.
Born in March 1933 in Amainyi, Ihitte-Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State, Ogwuegbu dedicated over five decades to the judiciary.
After obtaining his LL.B from the University of Liverpool, England in 1960, he was called to the English bar in 1962 and became a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He later earned an LL.M from the University of London.
Before his elevation to the Supreme Court February 1992, he spent five years at the Court of Appeal. He also served in the Supreme Court of the Gambia following his appointment in December 1999. His legal career began as a magistrate and he progressed through the ranks, serving in the High Court of old Imo State, the Court of Appeal and eventually the Supreme Court.
He also served as president of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
After Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Ogwuegbu was appointed to chair the Judicial Commission of Inquiry which investigated human rights abuses during the military regime.
Ogwuegbu retired from the Supreme Court on March 16, 2003.
