Nigerian Senate President, David Mark has described erudite Justice Chukwudifu Oputa as the pathfinder who charted the road map for the nation’s judicial system.
Paying tribute to the elder statesman following his demise, Senator Mark noted the unquantifiable contributions of the late Jurist to the economic and socio-Political development of Nigeria and lamented that a huge vacuum has been created with his death.
He said: “He was one of Nigeria’s best and foremost judicial officers. His land mark judgements are eloquent testimonies to this. He was a judicial officer per excellence. He remains a reference point on virtually all judicial matters.
“Justice Oputa unarguably a legal giant occupy a prominent chapter in the history of Nigeria especially in the Judiciary. Nigerians and generations yet unborn owe him debt of gratitude “.
Mark counseled that late Oputa’s legacy of selfless service, hard work , honesty, patriotism and professional excellence should be sustained by all especially in the Judiciary.
He urged Nigerians especially the Oputa family to take solace in the fact that their patriarch lived an accomplished life worthy of emulation.