Celebrating, learning from Hon. Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme By Prof N. O. Obiaraeri
“Ejim Chineke Ụgwo” (I am indebted to God) – His Lordship, Hon. Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme, Ph.D, JSC
At any gathering or event (social, religious, political, cultural, economic or mixed) there are many useful lessons to learn or nuggets of wisdom to go home with although many get engrossed in the glitz, pizazz, cuisine, cocktail and booze. This is not to say that gastronomic and visual entertainment is not important at these events but they should not be the epicentre of concentration or attention. Knowledge and wisdom can come from anywhere or anything. Wisdom will come to you from the unlikeliest of sources. The Holy Bible in Proverb 4: 6-8 recommends the wisdom of the ant thus- “GO to the ANT, you sluggard! Consider her WAYS and BE WISE, Which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.” Peter Obi is reputed to have once said that, as then Governor of Anambra State, the best advice he got on how to stop crime in a place called Upper Iweka was from “a mad man”.
Before one divagates, on Saturday the 29th day of June 2024, at a reception which held in Owerri in her honour, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme, Ph.D, JSC, boldly, publicly and repeatedly declared “EJIM CHINEKE ỤGWỌ ” (I AM INDEBTED TO GOD”).
This exhortation will be returned to later as it is the inspirational and instructive line for this article. Before then, it is apposite to ask the reading audience at this stage, are you indebted to who or what for your life, health, successes, wealth, riches, possessions, beauty, handsomeness, children, education and all that?
The colourful get-together was packaged by a group the celebrant dubbed “the five wise men” namely- Hon. Justice Paschal Nnadi, retired Chief Judge of Imo State; Hon. Justice K. A. Ojiako; Dr Livy Uzoukwu SAN; Hon. J.T.U. Nnodum SAN; and Hon. N.A. Nnawuchi SAN. Given the array of eminent jurists in attendance, the reception could easily have passed for a gathering of “who is who” in the judiciary and legal profession.
Expectedly, many serving and retired Justices of the Supreme Court, Justices of the Court of Appeal, Heads of Courts and Judges of different Superior Courts, Magistrates, Senior Advocates of Nigeria and lawyers graced the occasion to honour their own. Host Governor Senator Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Governor Prof Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, Deputy-Governors of Imo State and Enugu State, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, to mention a few of the VVIPs were in attendance. Others who were not left out included but not limited to serving and past Federal and State legislators, Federal Ministers and Members of the Executive Councils of different States, eggheads, religious leaders, traditional rulers and captains of industry.
Significantly, this intervention is neither about the heavyweights or long protocol list of attendees nor about the choice foods, wines, and drinks and pulsating Omenimo cultural dancers at the reception. It is about wisdom and inspiration coming from the unlikeliest of sources. It is about humility in public service and gratitude to GOD to accentuate that truly, the more humble a man is before GOD, the more he will be exalted.
The organisers had stated that the event was to give honour to whom it is due. Hon Justice Nwosu-Iheme’s impressive and intimidating profile can be abridged thus- Born on 2nd February 1959 in Nkwerre, Imo State; Called to the Nigerian Bar by the Body of Benchers in 1982; joined Imo State Ministry of Justice and was later promoted Senior State Counsel in 1986, joined the Magistracy and promoted Chief Magistrate in 1993; appointed and elevated Judge, Imo State High Court in 1995; appointed and elevated to the Court of Appeal on 15th February 2008; appointed and elevated to the apex Supreme Court on the 9th day of February 2024.
My Lord is a legal juggernaut who has rendered a plethora of landmark judgments or locus classicus (classical decisions) that have had transformative and far-reaching impacts on the Nigerian legal system and jurisprudence. My Lord is an academic trailblazer as she had obtained LLM in 1991 and Ph.D (Law) in 1998, making her the first female Judge in Nigeria to earn a Ph.D in Law. She is the second female Justice from Imo State to be appointed to the Supreme Court. The first was the Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili, now retired.
In their respective goodwill speeches, Governor Soludo, Governor Otti and Governor Uzodinma all commended Hon Justice Nwosu-Iheme as a courageous and upright judge and wished her well. They described the event as a prologue and looked forward to a more resounding epilogue on her meritorious retirement so many years ahead. An excerpt from page 06 of her citation (published from pages 04-11 of the Event brochure) states that “My Lord always radiates gracefulness, graciousness, decency, and decorum. Unlike most Nigerians who occupy high public offices, he is not dehumanised by his exalted position as a public officer.” This uncommon unassuming characteristic of the celebrant was later to play out when it was her turn to make a response.
The legal icon and highflier who had sat on the Magisterial Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and now sitting on the apex and final court – Supreme Court bench stated unequivocally and unapologetically in Igbo language “EJIM CHINEKE UGWO” which literally means in English language “I AM INDEBTED TO GOD”.
In an emotion laden voice, she stated that her story could be titled “FROM KIDNAPPERS’ DEN TO THE SUPREME COURT” and that all the honour of the world class reception and the beautiful things said about her should be ascribed unto ALMIGHTY GOD. After narrating her harrowing experience of fourteen days sojourn in the kidnappers’ den and how GOD spared her life, she emphatically declared “I SERVE A GOD OF SECOND CHANCE, EJIM CHINEKE ỤGWỌ”. That was a defining moment!
Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues, they say. St Bernard said “it is no great thing to be humble when you are brought low; but to be humble when you are praised is a great and rare attainment”. It bears repeating to ask, who do you owe your life, success, wealth, riches, powers, connections and all that to? Mark Twain had admonished “Never allow your schooling to get into the way of your education.” Never allow your high office or position or education or status to make you think or act like a demi-god.
Whether one is mighty or low, iji Chineke ụgwọ (You are indebted to GOD). It is idle or stupid to state or think otherwise. As one valedictorian said in his speech, “ego is the anaesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity”.
Many brag and boast about ephemeral things but no one is bigger than Almighty GOD. Pride is the burden of the unwise or injudicious. Humility is pivotal. GOD IS THE ULTIMATE!
Hon. Justice Nwosu-Iheme’s appreciation speech was a humbling experience worth sharing- no gloating, no bragging, no airs. Continuing in her brief but inspirational response, she was full of praises for the organisers and guests who attended. She did not forget her husband, Chief Uzoma Nwosu-Iheme, who is the Lord Mayor of Nkwerre Ancient Kingdom and her lovely children for their support, care and love.
Earlier, the celebrant’s disarming humility and candour was validated by Hon Justice Augie, Justice of the Supreme Court retired who was the Chairman of the occasion.
Hon Justice Augie brought a human angle to the high society event when she recounted her close interactions with the celebrant as then Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Benin Division. Hon Justice Augie stated that while on the Court of Appeal Bench, Benin Division with Hon Justice Nwosu-Iheme, she was highly supportive, hardworking and disciplined contrary to the narrative by cynics that women do not work together or support themselves.
Hon Justice Augie prayed that the end of Hon Justice Nwosu-Iheme‘s career on the Supreme Court bench will be more glorious than the event of the day.
One can only concur and prayerfully say in Latin to Hon Justice Nwosu-Iheme, ‘My Lord, habere eximio fine’ [your end will be superb].
A new normal is possible!
