By Nwabueze Okonkwo

ONITSHA—Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Chike Francis Ofodile, SAN, is feared dead.
He reportedly joined his ancestors on Sunday after a protracted illness.

Born on November 20, 1921, Ofodile, until his demise, was the traditional Prime Minister (Onowu) of Onitsha, second-in-command to Obi of Onitsha.
However, a close family source who spoke with newsmen on phone yesterday, said she could not confirm or deny the death because Onitsha tradition and custom did not permit any other person to confirm the death of a high chief as Ofodile, except the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe himself.

Efforts to reach Achebe on phone proved abortive as all the calls put to him entered voice mail, but his palace Secretary, Olisa, referred newsmen to Ofodile’s family for confirmation.
The member representing Onitsha I Constituency in Anambra State House of Assembly, Chugbo Enwezor, told newsmen on phone that he heard from the grapevine that Ofodile joined his ancestors on Sunday after a protracted illness, but that he was not in a position to confirmed his death.

He, however, noted that it was the responsibility of the Obi of Onitsha to do so as demanded by the tradition.
Asked whether Ofodile died in Nigeria or overseas, Enwezor said he heard he died in Nigeria.