PLATEAU STATE HIGH COURT HOLDS VALEDICTORY COURT SESSION IN HONOR OF LATE HON JUSTICE (PRINCE) MOSES OMOFOYE OYETUNDE

PLATEAU STATE HIGH COURT HOLDS VALEDICTORY COURT SESSION IN HONOR OF LATE HON JUSTICE (PRINCE) MOSES OMOFOYE OYETUNDE.

By Justin Jattim 

In continuation of the activities marking the 2023/2024 Legal Year of the Plateau State High Court of Justice held a Valedictory Court Session in Honour of His Lordship, Late Hon Justice (Prince) Moses Omofoye Oyetunde on Thursday 14th September,2023 at the High Court 1 in the newly commissioned Plateau State High Court Complex, Jos.

The Court started sitting at 10:15am with the Chief Judge of Plateau State, His Lordship, Hon Justice David G Mann leading other Justices of the Plateau State High Court in their beautiful regalia,the representative of the Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency,Barr Caleb Manessah Mutfwang , Arc Samuel Nanchang Jatau, the Secretary to the Plateau State Government,the representative of the Attorney General of the Federation, the representative of the President of the Court of Appeal, His Lordship, Hon Justice Morica Dongban Mensem, Hon Justice Yargata Nimpar of the Court of Appeall, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of Plateau state, Barr Philemon A Dafi, former Chief Judges Damulak, the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Blessing Lyop Dalyop, former President of the Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Julie Kyentu, the Grand Khadi of Plateau State, Hon Justice Umar Ibrahim Abdullahi and the former Grand Khadi , the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association as family and friends of the Late Hon Justole (Prince) Moses Omofoye Oyetunde into High Court 1.

The Chief Register of the Plateau State High Court, Barr Andrawus Maikai read the matter of the day which was the matter of Valedictory Court Session of His Lordship Late Hon Justice (Prince) Moses Omofoye Oyetunde with file No.PLE/517/motion/2023 by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Plateau State Hon Philemon Dafi Esq. the second motion was by the Chairman of the Nigeria Barr Association , Jos Branch, Barr Izang Aware.

The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Plateau State, Hon Philemon A. Dafi Esq read his motion with Barr Mantu Ishaku appearing . 

Similarly, Barr Izang Aware, the Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Jos Branch, Barr Emmanuel Hassan, the Secretary of the NBA, Jos Branch and Barr R C Kparbong, the Financial Secretary of the NBA , Jos Branch also presented their motion. 

After presentation of the motion by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Plateau State, Hon Philemon A Dafi Esq and Barr W I Aware, the Chairman of the NBA , Jos Branch, the Chief Judge of Plateau State, His Lordship, Hon Justice David G Mann said “we shall proceed to hear the motions in the matter of Valedictory Court Session with File No. PLE/516/Motion 2023 by the Attorney General and the NBA Chairman in Motions and MOO2 which also contained their written address.

The Chief Judge of Plateau State, His Lordship,Hon Justice David C Mann then thanked the AG and the NBA Chairman.

He ordered the session to go into speeches by the invited guests. 

First to be called was the representative of the Attorney General of Federation and Minster of Justice, Mr Fagbemi SAN who described the Late Hon Justice (Prince) Moses Omofoye Oyetunde as a consummate Judge, though from Oyo State, spent most of his service years in Jos. She commended the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, the Chief Judge of Plateau and the Plateau High Court for organizing and honoring Late Justice Oyetunde in such a glamorous manner.

The representative of the AG of the Federation described Late Oyetunde as a stickler for thorough legal practice , a founding member of Rotary Club Jos,Rayfield Golf Club and Christian Fellowship Group. She urged attendees to reflect on our lives and reconcile with one another, describing the life of Oyetunde as exemplary who left a good lesson to us as a true and great Nigerian.

In his remarks, Barr Danjuma C Rimdan, who just celebrated 50 years in the Bar said he met Hon Justice Oyetunde in the 1970s when Late Hon Justice Oloko was leading him to court.He said Oyetunde was meticulous about court processes and was the only one then who had a chamber of Husband and Wife in Jos with Oyetunde and Oyetunde Chambers at Barracks Road who both ended up  as Judges. 

Rimdam hinted that Justice Oyetunde played the role of a big brother, senior colleague and maintained the best spirit of the Bar and Bench. 

Danjuma Rimdan also said Oyetunde has a lot of good virtues,values,easy to associate with, brought light to the Jos Branch and served his father land meritoriously.

In her remarks, the representative of His Lordship,Hon Justice Monica Dongbam Mensem, the President of the Court of Appeal,Hon Justice Yaragata Nimpar said her first experience before His Lordship Hon Justice (Prince) Moses Oyetunde was not a pleasant one as he made her weep uncontrollably. 

She said Oyetunde does not allow lapses to go unnoticed and reprimanded as what is wrong to him is wrong and what is right is right.

Hon Justice Yargata Nimpar said lawyers have to be baptized by fire by Justice Oyetunde anytime you appear before him unprepared and unkept. 

She said you don’t murmur in her court because Justice Oyetunde taught her that. Justice Nimpar described Oyetunde as a man of many parts, who knows what he was doing and stood by them. He was one Judge who encourages young lawyers to be prepared very well before they approached Judges.

Justice Nimpar said Oyetunde loved Plateau State so much that he stayed back even after retirement. She conveyed the apologies of the President and Judges of the Court of Appeal to the family and urges Judges that they should understand that they will face the Judge of Judges hereafter.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Dr Oyetunde the fourth child of His Lordship, Hon Justice Oyetunde himself a lawyer in South Africa, thanked the Government and people of Plateau State especially, the Plateau State High Court and the Judiciary who stood with his family after the demise of their patriarch and matriarch who showered praises on the Late Justice Oyetunde before and during the Valedictory Court Session.

He thanked the AG of the Federation, the Chief Judge of Plateau State, the AG and Commissioner of Justice Plateau State,Justices of the Plateau State High Court and the Court of Appeal, the Chief Registrar of the Plateau State High Court, members of the Central Planning Committee(Hon JusticeIshakuKunda, Chairman,Hon Justice G D Fwomyom-member,Hon JusticeShaseet-Member, Hon JusticeElizabethAngai-Member, Hon JusticeS B Samchi-Member andBarrAndrawusMaikai-Secretary)as well as sub committees of the 2023/2024 Legal Year and Valedictory Court Session for a job well done. 

He equally appreciated all those who left their busy schedule to honour their late father with their presence.

Dr Oyetunde described their father as a teacher, mentor, lawyer and bencher who was driven by the passion for excellence at the bar, the bench and the society. He taught the good values but separated his work as a judge and his family.

 The young Oyetunde described his late father who grew up in a palace as a prince as one who was driven by his seated values for industry, cosmopolitan in nature, aiding his community and loves the Bible a lot which guided him in the discharge of duties.

Mr Fahintola the classmate of Hon Justice Oyetunde in 1945 confirmed all that was said about his late friend and classmate. He added that Justice Oyetunde was very brilliant in school which led to his promotion to the next class mid session. 

The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barr Caleb Mutfwang who was ably represented by Arc Samuel Nanchang Jatau, the Secretary to the Plateau State Government sent the apologies of the Governor who was unavoidably absent due to state matters.

 Jatau said he was part of the construction of the New Court Complex when he was a civil servant with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, thus nostalgic being at the valedictory court session in honour of Late Hon Justice Moses Omofoye Oyetunde whom he knew personally when growing up.

Jatau said he was a strict disciplinarian and always smart in dressing. 

Jatau told the  gathering that Oyetunde shares 8th August 1936 Birthday with his late father who were friends in Jos.

Jatau described Oyetunde as peaceful,neat and a concise personality.

The representative of Governor Mutfwang urged everyone to live by the examples of Justice Oyetunde who sees life as service to humanity and transient. 

Jatau affirmed that the Governor of Plateau State views his Government and the Judiciary as great partners in the rapid socio economic development of the Home of Peace and Tourism.

His Lordship Hon Justice Danlami G Mann, the Chief Judge of Plateau State before his ruling said “we are gathered here today to honor his Lordship Late Hon Justice (Prince) Moses Omofe Oyetunde, a colloids, a quintessential lawyer, judge and a teacher who was born on the 8th of August 1936 and died on the 13th June,2020. He said persuant to order 43 Rule 1,2020 in the jurisdiction of this court as well as considering the similarities of the two motions , that is motion 001 and motion 002 are to be consolidated. The CJ said the application filled by the Chairman of the Nigerian Barr Association, Jos Branch , Barr Izang Aware and the one filled by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Plateau State, Barr Philemon A Dafi,dated 13th September 2023, whereas the reliefs were identical.

 The relief sought by the Chairman of the NBA, that is, an order to move his valedictory court session of Late Hon Justice (Prince) Moses Omofoye Oyetunde, now deceased, an order of the family, Rotaty Club of Jos, Golfing Community, Friends within and outside Nigeria, the Government of Oyo and Plateau States, Ogbomosho Community, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria be comforted and an order granting the court to grant Late Hon Justice (Prince) Moses Omofoye Oyetunde eternal rest.

In a motion served by John Ishaku Manta Esq of the Plateau State Ministry of Justice with biography of Late Oyetunde marked exhibit M001 and that of NBA signed by Emmanuel Hassan Esq marked exhibit M002 written addresses were also filled and adopted are before the court. The Court also adopt the lone issue by the learned AG of Plateau State which is identical with that of the learned NBA Chairman, Jos Branch. Thus the Honourable Court ought to grant relief sought. Therefore Late Hon Justice Oyetunde who was born on the 8th of August, 1946 died on the 13th of June,2020 was known as a strict and fair minded jurist who ensured that lawyers adhere strictly to the rules of the court. He was an astute and incorruptible judge. He was not happy with unprepared lawyers who came before him. We remember the ruling he ordered the baliffs to arrest death but with his death, it seems the order has not been effected and can not be effected, hence his death. He was an active golfer in Jos, Ibadan and ogbomosho as well as a member of the Bible Fellowship Union. We believe he is resting in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The CJ continued that that Late Hon Justice (Prince) Moses Omofoye Oyetunde was married to Late Hon Justice Ruth Oyetunde, the former acting Judge of Oyo state with six children and all of them lawyers. The CJ ruled that since none of the rulings were opposed, accordingly the relief sought are humbly granted.

Vote of thanks was by Barr Daniel Ezekiel Mangut, the Director of Administration, Plateau State High Court of Justice.

Mangut appreciated the Governor,the representatives of the Attorney General of the Federation and the President of the Court of Appeal,the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Plateau State, the Chief Judge of Plateau State, former Chief Judges and spouses,Hon Justice Ishaku Kunda and members of the Central Planning Committee for the 2023/2023 Legal Year and the Valedictory Court Session for late Hon Justice Oyetunde, family and friends of Late Hon Justice (Prince) Moses Omofoye Oyetunde, Superior and Area Court Judges, Magistrates, the Silk, NBA Chairman and Exco, Guests, Attendees and others.