*As tributes pour in for late minister at valedictory court session

By Boluwaji Obahopo

LOKOJA—Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State yesterday said the state government would immortalise the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi (SAN).

The state of Ocholi’s car after the accident along Kaduna-Abuja road on Sunday. Inset: Ocholi

The governor, who made the declaration at the State High Court premises during the Valedictory court session organised in honour of the late minister, also promised to take adequate care of the four remaining children of the late minister.

Apart from Bello, the class of 1986 of the Nigerian Law School also pledged to assist the remaining members of the family of the former minister.

The governor said the death of the Ocholis was shocking and had left the entire people of the state in mourning.

He said: “The outpouring of grief across the length and breadth of Nigeria, following his death and that of his wife and son, attests to the strength of his character as a well-loved gentleman, who’s impact is incomparable.

“Everyone from the President and commander in chief to the lowest beneficiary of his impact even in Dekina and everywhere mourn him for the great contribution he has offered to his generation.”

Also speaking, the leader of the class of ’86 of the Law School, Mr. Joe Gadzama (SAN), said the over 2000 members of the class met in Abuja on Wednesday and had resolved to assist the children the late minister’s left behind.

His words: “Ocholi was a man of many parts, in the first place he was an iconic lawyer, he was an astute politician and a devout Christian, even as a politician he distinguished himself and stood out and represented us as a worthy ambassador among the politicians.

The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajana, described Ocholi as a budding talent Kogi State indigenes were looking up to with the belief that his contributions to the nation at this auspicious period would impact on them positively.