Justice Chima Nweze of Nigeria’s Supreme Court was thought to be dead.
Although his family has yet to make public the news of his death at the time of publication, a source confirmed he died on Sunday at the age of 64.
Justice Nweze became very popular following his dissenting judgment in 2020 which declared Emeka Ihedioha of the People Democratic Party winner of the 2019 Governorship election in Imo State against the decision of the majority of the panel.
He was also among the panel of Justices who refused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar’s request to inspect the Independent National Electoral Commission’s server while challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in 2019.
Also, in a split judgement of three against two, Nweze delivered the controversial judgement of the Supreme Court which declared the then Senate President, Ahmad Lawan as the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Yobe North Senatorial District for the 25 February general election.
Justice Nweze, a native of Obollo, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, was born on September 25, 1958.
Recall that in 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration approved the recommendation of the National Judicial Council NJC, to appoint Nweze to the supreme court.