The Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Marshal Umukoro, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Peter Mrakpor SAN, and members of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, have eulogised Honourable Justice Celestina Obatarhe Ogisi (rtd) as a brilliant Jurist who upheld the tenets of justice to the letter.
The legal community pour encomiums on the retired Judge during the conventional valedictory court session held in her honour today in Asaba, presided over by the State Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro.
The Chief Judge who was represented by Justice Tessy Diai described the jurist as an amazon who bestrode the temple of justice and conquered it like a colossus.
"Our Hon. Justice Celestina Obatarhe Ogisi (Mrs.) is not only an epitome of hardwork and integrity but an exemplar for young aspirants into the bench."
He used the auspicious occasion to express gratitude to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his unflinching support for Delta State Judiciary, especially the Governor's prompt renovation of the High Court Complex, Ibusa Road, Asaba which was set ablaze on 22nd October, 2020 by hoodlums in guise of EndSARS' protest.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Peter Mrakpor (SAN) stated that retired Justice Obatarhe Ogisi who once served as Director of Public Prosecutions in the Ministry of Justice, approached her duties with firm and assertive disposition, stressing that with her exit the Delta State Judiciary was now devoid of one judge whose presence exuded the qualities of a responsible and upright judicial officer who was not given to frivolities or flimsy excuses for under performance.
Speaking in the same vein, Chike Onyemenam (SAN) and chairman the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, chairman of NBA, Asaba branch Barrister Augustine Nwabueze Eseagwu applauded Ogisi for her unblemished uprightness, doggedness and boldness in dispensing justice.
Retired Justice Obatarhe Ogisi appreciated Governor ifeanyi Okowa, State Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Peter Mrakpor (SAN) and members of the Nigerian Bar Association for making her exit from Delta State Judiciary formal, official and ceremonial by putting together the special valedictory court session to mark the event.
The sexagenarian Jurist who bowed out of the bench on the 24th of September, 2020 after 17 years, affirmed that her sojourn as public servant in all the Three Arms of Government equipped her with the requisite experience which impacted on her work ethics.
Justice Obatarhe Ogisi who is the chairman of the Judicial Panel of Enquiry on Police Brutality and Extra-Judicial Killings in Delta State began her legal peregrination at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University where she obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) in 1981.
Upon her being called to the Nigerian Bar in 1982 and enrolled as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the pioneer director of Legal Drafting and Advisory Services in the Delta State Ministry of Justice and pioneer director of the Legal Service Department in the Delta State House of Assembly, served her compulsory Youth Service Corps at the Adjutant General Office of the Nigerian Army where she prosecuted in Court Marshal in Lagos between 1982-1983.
Before her appointment as Judge in 2003, Justice Ogisi had served in various capacities in the public service among which include member Delta State Law Review Commission, Delta State Boundary Committee and Agricultural Development Programme Executive Committee on representative capacity.
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