Judiciary Mourns Former Court of Appeal President, Justice Elumeze

The Delta State judiciary has been thrown into mourning following the death of the immediate past President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Patience Onuwa Elumeze, who reportedly passed away in Abuja after a brief illness, two years after her retirement from active service.

The immediate past President of the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Patience Onuwa Elumeze, has reportedly passed away in Abuja, the nation’s capital, after a brief illness. She was said to be in her 60s.

Reliable sources within the Delta State judiciary confirmed the sad incident on Wednesday, disclosing that the retired jurist died at a hospital in Abuja where she had been receiving treatment.

Justice Elumeze, who served meritoriously in the state judiciary, was first appointed as Acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal in November 2020 by the then Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, following the retirement of her predecessor, Justice Stella Ogene. She was later sworn in as the substantive President in June 2021.

During her tenure, Justice Elumeze was widely commended for her remarkable contributions to the administrative reforms and speedy dispensation of justice in the Customary Court of Appeal. She was also praised for her dedication to staff welfare and her efforts toward improving the judicial process in Delta State.

When our correspondent visited the Customary Court of Appeal Headquarters along High Court Road, Asaba, on Wednesday, the atmosphere was somber as staff and lawyers were seen discussing the jurist’s demise in hushed tones.

Some judiciary staff who spoke on condition of anonymity described Justice Elumeze as a kind, passionate, and hardworking leader, whose death represents a huge loss to the judiciary family in Delta State.

One of the staff said, “She was a mother figure to many of us and always ensured fairness and empathy in her leadership. Her passing is deeply painful.”

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family and the Delta State Judiciary in due course.