Supreme Court Judge, Sylvester Ngwuta Is Dead!

Nigeria’s Apex Court, the Supreme Court, has lost one of its eminent jurists, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta.

According to Ahuraka Isah, Spokesman of the Supreme Court, the Judge, who had been ill for some time, died on Sunday morning.

He said Ngwuta’s illness took a turn for the worse on Thursday and was subsequently taken to the intensive care unit.

The Supreme Court Spokesperson, however, said Ngwuta tested negative for COVID-19.

“He has been ill for a while. He was supposed to preside over a matter on Thursday but the illness became severe,” he said.

“He was moved to the intensive care unit on Friday. They even conducted COVID-19 test on him but he tested negative.

“We were already preparing for his valedictory service slated for March 30.”

Ngwuta is the third most senior judge on the bench of the apex court, behind Justices Tanko Muhammad CJN and Bode Rhodes-Vivour (who is due for retirement on March 22, 2021).

Honourable Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta was born in 1951 in Amofia-Ukawu, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
His lordship had his basic education in the Eastern part of Nigeria and got his LLB at the University of Ife (Now Obafemi Awolowo University), lle-ife in 1977- and BL at the Nigerian Law School in 1978.

 Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, is a hard working and dedicated public servant, who was a primary school teacher, far back as 1966, he became a clerical officer (Account Ministry of Education in Divisional School Board, Afikpo) in August 1971.

He was deployed as the state counsel in charge, Ministry of justice, Oturkpo, Benue State, during his National Youth Service Programme in August 1978 – October 1979. He started his private legal practice at Abakaliki in July 1978 – October 1995, from where he was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Abia State in October 1995 and promoted to the Court of Appeal on 22nd May, 2003.

He was finally sworn-in as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in May 2011.

He was the Chairman of Judicial Panel of inquiry into the Obegu Enyibichirikwo Disturbance 1997-1998 and has been a member of several Election Petition Tribunal, Governship and legislative House Election Petition Tribunal; Nasarawa State held at Lafia in February 1999, National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Plateau State held at Jos in April 1999, amongst others.

His Lordship had attended several seminars within and outside Nigeria, and also presented several papers; “Elements of Good Brief Writing” delivered on 9th Nov.2005 on prosecution of Appeals for legal officers in Delta State Ministry of justice, “The Importance of Locus standi and Jurisdiction to the Dispensation of justice in Nigeria and Effect of same where Absent” delivered at law Dinner organised by law students’ Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi state University Chapter, Abakaliki on 17th August 2007. His lordship had received several awards such as:
Human Rights Awards by Human Rights Commission, Ebonyi state, on the World Human Right Day December 2000,

Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award 2011/2012 by West African Students Union Parliament on 25th April, 2012, and

Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) 2012.

He was arrested by the Department of State Security Services (DSS) on 8 October 2016 on allegations of bribery and corruption.

However, the Court of Code Tribunal (CCT) ruled in May 2018 that only the National Judicial Council could determine whether or not Ngwuta would face trial.

In September 2019, Ngwuta resumed his duties as a Supreme Court Justice after a three year suspension.

He was a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association and the Nigerian Body of Benchers.