Eso In The Eyes Of His Family

Jonathan, Mark, Atiku, Nnamani, Amaechi, Fayemi, Others Mourn

FOR Femi, younger brother of the late Justice Kayode Eso, the retired erudite jurist of the Supreme Court, “he is a great elder brother and his death is shocking. He is a great man, who loves his family.”

His younger sister, Mrs. Moni Esho, who is the last direct child of the Eso dynasty of Ilesa, said: “My brother is the pride of the family and his death was a shock to me.”

Justice Eso, according to a statement from his son, Olumide, passed on early Friday at Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom (UK).

His nephew, Dr. Olatunde Eso, of Osun State Hospital, Saki, described him as “a great man,” adding: “You will always miss a great father and family man.

“When I lived with him, he did not discriminate. I ate on the same table with him and his children.

“When I got admitted into the University of Ilorin, he paid my school fees and bought my books.

“He is a man that would cater for everybody in the family. It is a great shock.”

Another nephew, Tunde Eso, publisher of Jubel magazine and author of African Security Solution, said: “In my five years experience with him, he was a great uncle.

“I had traveled to his house in Ibadan during my growing up stages to study in his library and he paid my first year school fees when I got admitted into the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

“He is very straightforward, objective on issues, charismatic and proactive in nature.”

Meanwhile, eulogies continue to pour in for the late jurist, with President Goodluck Jonathan saying he received the news of his death with sadness and a feeling of great national loss.

In a statement by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President, on behalf of himself and the Federal Government, extended his “heartfelt condolences to the Eso family, their friends, associates and the government and people of Osun State, as they mourn the eminent jurist, courageous judge and consistent advocate for an independent judiciary, whose long and exemplary life was dedicated to the service of law and order, and the dispensation of true justice, equity and fairness to all.”

Jonathan urged his family and friends to take solace in the incontestable fact that Justice Eso will forever be remembered as “a very bold, fearless and courageous judge, who contributed enormously to establishing the independence of the Nigerian judiciary and the national effort to entrench the highest levels of professionalism, discipline and integrity in the country’s legal system.”

According to the statement, the President believes “members of the legal profession in Nigeria will always owe a debt of gratitude to the late Justice Eso for his immense legacy of learned, erudite and seminal judgments, prodigious writings and major interventions in national debates on and outside the Bench, which will always be remembered for their incisiveness, thoroughness, intellectual touch and impact.”

He urged members of the Bar and Bench to “emulate the dedication, discipline, integrity and activism that Justice Eso exemplified, even up to old age, as well as his commendable patriotism, which manifested in his constant readiness to take on national assignments whenever he was called upon to do so.”

Senate President David Mark, described Justice Eso’s death as a monumental loss to the country, especially the Judiciary.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark lamented that by his death, Nigeria has lost one of the best and most fertile minds in the judiciary.

He noted that Justice Eso was one of the proponents of the legal reforms that ushered in the era of dignity and the independence of the country’s judicial system.

“As a legal officer and jurist, Eso was a voice for the voiceless. He defended the defenceless and was there for the oppressed. He was a forthright and a distinguished officer.

“Nobody doubted his integrity and where he stood on national issues were clearly unambiguous. He was a patriotic Nigerian,” he noted.

He stated that the country would miss the worthy contributions of Eso, whom he described as eminent in all ramifications and left his positive footprint on the sand of time.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described Eso as a man of integrity, saying his passage marked yet a further depletion of the ranks of Nigeria’s notable elder statesmen produced by the country.

Atiku, in a statement by his media office in Abuja yesterday, said “the late legal luminary was notable for his courage and integrity because of his role in saving the image of the judiciary from the nadir of moral eclipse.”

He stated that Eso, as a judicial activist, was always on the side of justice, regardless of whose ox was gored, citing his several judicial pronouncements, which have become reference points in the judicial circle.

the Turaki Adamawa said, adding that one of the greatest desires of any man was to retire with his integrity intact, which Eso had achieved.

According to Atiku, Eso deserves a special place in the pantheon of Nigeria’s judicial heroes and judges and lawyers should imbibe his virtues to make the nation’s judiciary more vibrant, unbiased and fearless.

Former Senate President, Dr. Ken Nnamani, said Eso was one of Nigeria’s fearless judicial officers who made remarkable pronouncements, who would be missed, especially now that the country’s judiciary needs some activism.

“A colossal loss,” was how Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, described the death of Eso, fondly called Lord Denning of the Nigerian Bar.

In a statement by Aregbesola’s Director of Communications and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, the governor said Eso’s death was a big blow to the country’s judiciary, rule of law and justice.

He noted that Eso died when his over four decades wealth of experience at the Bench is most need by the country, especially with the current effort at reviewing the 1999 Constitution.

According to him, Eso was the greatest crusader of an independent judiciary and very well known for his relentless efforts in maintaining discipline and protecting the integrity of his court.

The governor noted that all through his life, the late justice remained committed to unadulterated justice, maintenance of rule of law and a rigorous campaigner of true federalism in the country, describing him as “sharp-minded, versatile, brilliant, morally upright and a quintessential legal mind per excellence.”

Aregbesola stated that Eso’s wealth of experience, knowledge at the Bench and of constitution and rule of law in general would be missed greatly.

He added: “As a Judge, Eso’s verdicts are legendary and a delight to read and listen to. He always exhibited erudition, scholarship and brilliance in court; well reasoned, logical and replete with legal authorities, time-honoured statements of law, which are veritable guides to all in the legal profession.

“Besides, Justice Eso is a fearless and courageous judge, whose celebrated landmark judgments speak volumes of themselves, such as the ‘mystery gunman’ case.

“The demise of Justice Eso is a huge blow to both the bench and the bar. He will surely be missed greatly,” Aregbesola said.

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi expressed shock over his death.

In a statement by his spokesman, David Iyofor, Amaechi described Eso as “an accomplished jurist, a rare breed of uncommon wisdom and sharp intellect, who always stood on the side of the law and what is right.”

The governor hailed Esho’s contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s legal and justice system and the good works he did as a justice of the Supreme Court.

“Justice Eso was a man of uncommon virtues. His work in the apex court would not be easily forgotten.

“Most important to us here in Rivers State was his commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which he chaired, contributing to the return of peace and sanity in the state.

“We are particularly grateful for the thorough and comprehensive work he did at the TRC. Rivers people hold him dearly and will always remember him for that,” Amaechi said, while condoling with his family, the Judiciary and the entire country.

Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, expressed regret over his death, describing his passage as “a big blow to the Judiciary in particular and the nation at large.”

Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Olayinka Oyebode, also described Eso as “an incomparable legal giant whose contribution to jurisprudence will remain indelible in Nigeria and Africa, an impartial, incorruptible and fearless judge, who did justice to all cases before him, regardless of personalities involved.”

While describing Eso as “the conscience of the nation’s judiciary,” Fayemi recalled that the late Justice was forthright in arriving at his decisions as a judicial officer and never allowed anybody to intimidate him.

He noted that Eso was a role model to upcoming lawyers and judges in commitment, dedication, industry and discipline, which helped him to maintain a scandal-free career, both at the Bar and on the Bench.

Fayemi stated that Eso’s death has created a big void in the league of eminent Nigerian jurists, whose counsel and contribution would be crucial, as the country embarks on another round of constitution amendment.

Chief Ebenezer Babatope said by Eso’s death, the country is once again thrown into mourning.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain stated: “Justice Eso was a forthright, brilliant, fearless and honest man, who loved his country to the very end. His judicial decisions and pronouncements in his many years in the High Court and Supreme Court were simply flawless.”

Mrs. Leila Fowler, administrator of Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Lagos, described the death of Eso, who was the Chairman of the school’s Board of Governor as a great loss to the country.

Mrs. Fowler said Eso, whom she had a close relationship with for more than 50 years, was a committed and passionate man, who was keen on the progression of the school and girl-child.

“He would be remembered for his consciousness and respect for time. He will be greatly missed by all at Vivian Fowler,” she said.

She was optimistic that the youths are going to emulate somebody like him.

Justice Eso is survived by his wife, Helen Aina, and children —- Funmilayo Eso-Williams and Olumide and grandchildren.