By Josef Omorotionmwan
IN spite of the glut of activities in the political and governmental arenas, this Column is, today, taking a break from those areas to attend to a matter of urgent public importance.

It is not often that we stumble into a material that provides a shining example for the younger generation and on those rare occasions when we see one, we must quickly tap into the anointing before it passes by.

“The retiring Judge is an erudite scholar of the law that left an indelible mark in the legal literature. He is a quintessential jurist and an embodiment of wisdom-cum- mastery of the law.” – Hon. Justice Cromwell Idahosa, Chief Judge of Edo State.

“This Judge took the administration of justice to the grassroots in the State… He is a gentleman of a good trade.” – Chief Kola Okeaya Inneh, speaking on behalf of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN.

“Meek and humble personality; an administrator par excellence, whose work has remained an institution in the legal profession.” – Rasaq Isenalumhe, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Benin Branch.

The foregoing merely represent a small preamble to the introduction of Hon. Justice Joseph Otabor Olubor, OFR, who has just retired as the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Edo State. Our man of the moment was born at Igbanke in the present Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State on May 4, 1947.

Let me quickly congratulate Justice Olubor on his meritorious retirement at the mandatory age of 65 years. I am confident that many will join me in rejoicing with him on this occasion. I am equally confident that he will feel self-assured that he has worked hard enough to enjoy the happiness, honour and privileges, which his present circumstances confer on him.

This becomes important in view of the rather perilous times we are in. At a time when the public confidence in the judiciary was fast eroding, he has come as an inspiration that all hope is not lost. At a time when many in the judiciary have tended to lend legitimacy to the aphorism, “Why pay a lawyer when you can buy a Judge”, he has come as a shining example that the judiciary can, indeed, still be the last hope of the people. Olubor has demonstrated in no mean measure that a just Nigeria is possible.

Please permit me to highlight a few points about the man, Hon. Justice Olubor which bespeak him as a man who has distinguished himself in various ways and is destined to make history:

Olubor had his early education at St. Paul’s (now Ohuoba) Primary School, Benin City, from 1954 to 1960. Between 1961 and 1963, he attended Edokpolor Secondary Modern School, Benin City. Between 1970 and 1974, he was at the Institute of Continuing Education, ICE, where he obtained the General Certificate of Education, GCE, Ordinary and Advanced levels. In his determination to build up the necessary intellectual robustness relevant to the machinery and process of service to humanity, he proceeded to the University of Lagos in 1975, where he graduated with an LLB Honours degree in 1978. Thereafter, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School where he had his BL and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1979.

Within so short a time, Justice Olubor has pursued a brilliant working career in the Judiciary, including: State Counsel, Ministry of Justice; Senior Legal Officer, Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority; President Grades II and I, Area Customary Court; and Pioneer Deputy Chief Registrar, Customary Court of Appeal. He was appointed a Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal in 1991. In 1998, he was elevated to the position of the President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Edo State, a position he held until he retired the penultimate week.

This eminent jurist has, perhaps, been addicted to law conferences – both local and international, all in search of knowledge and constant renewal thereof. He has attended these conferences in virtually all the countries of the world and has presented several papers at local conferences.

He was a two time Member of the Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute, NJI. He has just concluded his tenure as a Council Member, National Judicial Council, NJC.

Justice Olubor has received several honours and recognitions, including Knight of St. Christopher, KSC, of the Anglican Communion and Order of the Federal Republic, OFR, by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Evidently, the future begins today. Ceteris paribus, this son of a bicycle seller, who rose to the pinnacle of his chosen profession and who is happily married to Professor Rosaline Olubor, Director, Institute of Education, University of Benin, has carefully stationed his children to be greater than him: Mrs. Afe Inua is a university lecturer and a doctoral student of Accounting; Dr. Osayem Otabor-Olubor is a Senior Resident Doctor at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH; Dr. Ogho Otabor-Olubor is a Resident Doctor, Department of Pediatrics, UBTH; and Iyare Otabor-Olubor is a legal practitioner, currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Law at the University of Sheffield, England.

We present to you, Justice Joseph Otabor Olubor, a most perfect manifestation of legal craftsmanship and hope for the younger and future generations; a man destined to make history, yet, whose humility belies the robustness of his attainment in life; an administrator par excellence, a philanthropist extra-ordinaire, a golfer and lover of country music; an exponent of human kindness; one man who renders service to humanity without counting the cost; and above all, a gentleman and a scholar.

Accordingly, this Column’s Award for the Most Distinguished Jurist of the year is hereby conferred on Justice Joseph Otabor Olubor, OFR, with all the honours, privileges and immunities thereto appertaining.