ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed profound sorrow over the deaths of two eminent Delta citizens, the immediate past President of the State Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Patience Onuwa Elumeze, and renowned business mogul, Chief Andrew Chukwu Okocha.
Justice Elumeze, who passed away on Tuesday in Abuja after a brief illness, was a distinguished jurist known for her integrity, dedication, and transformative leadership within the state judiciary. Governor Oborevwori, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, described her as “a committed legal luminary whose reforms enhanced the speed and efficiency of justice in Delta State.”
Appointed Acting President of the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal in November 2020 by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Justice Elumeze was sworn in as the substantive President in June 2021 and retired in April 2023. Governor Oborevwori extended heartfelt condolences to her family, the judiciary, and the people of Delta State, praying for her soul and comfort for those left behind.
In a separate condolence, Governor Oborevwori mourned the passing of Chief Andrew Chukwu Okocha, Chairman and CEO of the A.C. Okocha Group of Companies, who died at 78. The Governor described Chief Okocha as a visionary industrialist and community leader whose entrepreneurial initiatives significantly contributed to Delta State’s economic growth and provided employment opportunities for many.
“Chief Andrew Okocha was a pillar of the private sector and a respected leader whose legacy will endure,” the Governor said, urging the Okocha family and the Ogwashi-Uku community in Aniocha South Local Government Area to find solace in the remarkable contributions of their patriarch.
Governor Oborevwori prayed for the repose of their souls and for strength for their families, emphasizing that both leaders left indelible marks on the state’s judicial and economic development
