A justice of the Supreme Court, Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji, has died at the age of 67. His death is coming lesser than a year after he was promoted to the Supreme Court bench.
He was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court on November 6, 2020, along with seven (7) others by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.
According to reports, Justice Oseji died after a protracted illness.
Who is Justice Oseji?
Honorable Justice Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji was born in Jos, Plateau State to the family of Mr. & Mrs. Ebenezer Oseji.
He started his primary education in Saint Paul’s Anglican School, Jos but concluded it in Saint Dominic Catholic School, Idumuje-uno which incidentally is his hometown.
His secondary education was at Nigerian Peoples High School, Lagos where he obtained his West African School Certificate, Division One.
He moved to Saint Patrick’s College, Asaba for his Higher School Certificate in 1979. He was subsequently admitted to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to study Law in 1980.
He graduated in 1984 with an LL.B (Hons) Degree and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos for his BL degree and was subsequently called to Bar in 1985.
He also obtained his Master’s Degree (LL.M) LAW from Ambrose Alli University in 2003. He also delved into the PHD program. His National Youth Service Programme was in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In August 1986, he got an appointment with the Legal Aid Council as a Legal officer in Charge of the defunct Bendel State but later transferred to Benue State. In 1994, he transferred his service to the Delta State judiciary as a Senior Magistrate Grade 1.
In January 1996, he got a double promotion to the post of a Chief Magistrate Grade 1. The same year he was appointed as the Deputy Chief Registrar and then acting Chief Registrar of the High Court of Justice, Delta state.
In April 1997, he was confirmed as the first substantive Chief Registrar of Delta state.
In recognition of his honesty, dedication and hard work, Hon. Justice S.C. Oseji was elevated to the Higher Bench as a Judge of the High Court, Delta State in 1998.
In 2007, he was appointed as a member of the Governorship and legislative Houses of Assembly Election Tribunal in Katsina State.
In 2009, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Delta State Local Government Election Petition Appeal Tribunal.
In 2010, His Lordship, Justice S.C. Oseji was further elevated as a Justice of the COURT OF APPEAL in which the Benin Division was thought to be the last bus stop but in recognition of his illustrious career endowed with discipline handwork and intelligence, his lordship, Justice S.C Oseji was nominated to the Apex Court and ultimately inducted as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 20th day of November 2020.
Before the elevation, he was appointed as a member of the Presidential election Petitions Tribunal in February 2019.
Justice Oseji has attended many seminars, workshops and Conferences both in Nigeria and Overseas. Hon. Justice S.C Oseji is also a Fellow of International Institute of Dispute Resolution (FIDRI) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria (FCIArb).
He is survived by his wife Dr Mrs Mininim Oseji a Permanent Secretary in the Delta State Ministry of Health and they are blessed with lovely Children.
He became a High Court Judge in Delta State in 1998 and was afterwards, promoted to the Court of Appeal in 2010.
Before his elevation to the apex court, Justice Oseji served as a member of the Presidential election Petitions Tribunal in February 2019.
Though the Supreme Court is yet to officially announce Justice Oseji’s death, however, media aide to the CJN, Mr. Ahuraka Isah, told Vanguard that the apex court will issue a statement before the end of the day.
Meanwhile, from his bio-data on the Supreme Court website, the late jurist was born in Jos, Plateau State to the family of Mr. & Mrs. Ebenezer Oseji.
He started his primary education in Saint Paul’s Anglican School, Jos but concluded it in Saint Dominic Catholic School, Idumuje-uno which incidentally is his hometown.
His secondary education was at Nigerian Peoples High School, Lagos where he obtained his West African School Certificate, Division One.
He moved to the Saint Patrick’s College, Asaba for his Higher School Certificate in 1979, and was subsequently admitted to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to study Law in 1980.
He graduated in 1984 with an LL.B (Hons) Degree and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos for his BL degree and was later called to Bar in 1985.
He was married to Dr. Mrs. Mininim Oseji, a Permanent Secretary in the Delta State Ministry of Health, and they were blessed with children.
