Family relives moments as Rivers eminent jurist goes home

Family relives moments as Rivers eminent jurist goes home

By Amos Okioma.

The remains of the late Justice Tayo Kilegbu Osu (rtd) was committed to mother earth last Saturday at his hometown,Joinkrama(3) in the Ahoada West council area of Rivers state.

Speaking with Journalists shortly after the interment, the late Jurist eldest son and Economist, Mr Ukari Osu relived the bereaved family’s times with the late retired octogenarian Judge of the Rivers state High court.

He said the late Justice in his life time built bridges of unity amongst his family members,community and the entire state.

The deceased son described his late father as an epitome of love and peace where ever he had found himself, noting that he dedicated his entire life in the service of God and the state.

He stated that the late Judge was an incorruptible Jurist,who believed in the value of Education as a tool for development.

Osu said it was partly due to his late father’s stance on the rule of law and its application that the Rivers state Governor,Nyesom Wike even after many years of retirement and notwithstanding the late Judge’s age had appointed him as chairman of the Rivers state law review committee.

The Tide learnt that the late Justice Tayo Kilegbu Osu(rtd) was appointed a Judge of the Rivers state Judiciary in 1989 after many years of both public and private legal practice.

The Tide further gathered that the late Engenni born chequered Jurist retired meritoriously from the state’s Judiciary in the year 2007 after putting no fewer than 18 years of service as a Judge.

The Tide again was informed that the late Justice Osu also had a stint in politics before being appointed a member of the inner bench,just as his eldest daughter, Mrs Zakien Osu Christopher and other of his children who have since taken after him in politics have promised to keep their father’s legacies alive.

According to Mrs Zakien OSU Christopher, wife of a Bayelsan based publisher of Niger Delta New link described her late father as a giver, helper to humanity as his generosity to fellow man was unimaginable ” You deprived yourself of good things in life just help humanity.You believed that living a luxurious life was a waste of money when that money could be used to help the needy around you.You lived a modest life,it is hard to believe that you are gone” she said in ” her tribute to the best daddy international , the old man left”

While Victor Christopher, the senior INLAW  in his tribute “exit of an incorruptible judge ” posited that his exit  has created an irreplaceable vacuum for him personally as a close INLAW whom he find to be amiable to all class of citizens especially indigent class of our society that ordinarily his class of person in the society may ignore.”

The burial ceremony attracted a galaxy of personalities from not within Rivers and Bayelsa States with captains of industries and politicians from different political parties. Those present include Dr Bertola , Chairman , Ekeremor Local area, Executive Secretary, Bayelsa state Students loan Board, Dr Mike Amaegberi, former member Bayelsa state House of Assembly, Hon Amalanyo Yousuo and a large entourage from Bayelsa state.

Others include , Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, Hon Hope Ikiriko, Awoli Miller and Asita . O. Asita of NIMASA.

According his biography, Hon justice Tayo Kilegbu OSU was born in the year 1935, on the 17th of April at Odawu, Joinkrama 3 in Engenni ethic nationality in Ahoada West LGA of Rivers state.He was born to a peasant family and through dint of hard work and preserverance rose to become a reputable honorable justice and after his retirement, was appointed the chairman of Rivers state Law Revision  Committee by HE governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wine , a position he held until his demise on 27 January 2021.