The Nigerian Judiciary has lost one of its brilliant men in the bench of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Justice Samuel Chukwudumebi Oseji, who was elevated to the country’s apex court November last year, has died at the age 67.
Justice Oseji, who will only clock one year as a Justice of the Supreme Court this November, got elevated to the bench of the Supreme Court, 10 years after his elevation into the bench of the Court of Appeal, Benin Division.
According to sources, the late jurist died after a brief illness early Tuesday in an Abuja hospital. His remains have been deposited at the morgue.
The late Justice Oseji was from the South-South part of Nigeria but was born in the northern part of the country, specifically, 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, Idumujeuno, his hometown.
Cutting across the region, Justice Oseji had his secondary education 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 programme. 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 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 hardwork, 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, Oseji was nominated to the Apex Court and ultimately inducted as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on November 20, 2020.
Before the elevation, he was appointed as a member of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in February 2019.
Before he took the final now from the Bench, the late Justice Oseji attended several seminars, workshops and Conferences both in Nigeria and Overseas.
He was a Fellow of International Institute of Dispute Resolution, FIDRI, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria, FCIArb.
He was married to Dr. Mininim Oseji, who is presently a Permanent Secretary in the Delta State Ministry of Health with children.
