Omo-Agege, Amaechi, Abe, Peterside mourn Karibi-Whyte

From Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Senate Deputy President Ovie Omo-Agege, Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi,  Senator Magnus Abe and a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, at the weekend expressed sadness over the death of retired Supreme Court jurist, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, who died on Friday.

He was 88.

Amaechi, who referred to the deceased as a father and great advisor, had appointed Karibi-Whyte Pro-Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) to strengthen the institution’s education and values, when he was Rivers State governor.

He said: “Justice Karibi-Whyte, for me, was a father-figure. He was an exemplary personality, a great advisor, and I have the utmost respect for him.

“During his tenure as Pro-Chancellor of RSUST where he brought his astute disposition and intellect to bear, there was a remarkable turnaround in the quality of education and handling of affairs in the institution.

Read Also: Buhari mourns Justice Karibi-Whyte

“He was also a key member of the state’s Economic Advisory Council when I was governor and my administration and Rivers State benefited richly from his wealth of experience and expertise.

“As a Justice of the Supreme Court, he was very upright, fearless and upheld the rule of law. He was a colossus and great teacher. I will miss him deeply. Rivers State and Nigeria just lost a good man, a great man.”

Omo-Agege said the death of Justice Karibi-Whyte is a deep loss not only to Nigeria but the whole world.

In a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, the Deputy Senate President urged his family members, people of Rivers State, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Body of Benchers as well as friends and associates of the late jurist at home and abroad to take solace in his unforgettable imprints.

Abe, a former representative of Rivers South East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, condoled with the Judiciary and the Karibi-Whyte family on the death of the former jurist.

A statement by his media aide, Parry Saroh Benson, said: “Justice Karibi-White meant different things to different people. To me, he was a father, a friend and a counsellor. I was mesmerised by his passion and commitment to justice.”

Dakuku described the late Justice Karibi-Whyte as one of the finest jurists of his generation, who brought tact, discipline, and sound judgments to the legal profession.