Charly Boy confirms his father Justice Oputa is dead

Charly Boy and his later father Justice Oputa.

Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa, father of popular Nigerian entertainer Charly Boy is dead.

A statement from Charly Boy (his second son) confirms the legal luminary passed away today, Sunday afternoon, May 4, 2014.

'The Family of Justice Chukwudifu Oputa wishes to announce the passing to glory of the eminent jurist and a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria at the age of 96 years. He passed on peacefully on Sunday afternoon, May 4, 2014, after recovering from a brief illness. Funeral announcements will soon be released by the family', Charly boy's statement read.

The Imo State elder statesman was aged 96 and not 89 as several blogs have reported. It is being reported that the body of the deceased had been deposited at the morgue of the National Hospital in Abuja.

The former judge of the Supreme Court in February was reported to have suffered a stroke and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri. It is unclear if he later travelled to receive treatment as promised by the Imo State Government.

Oputa was appointed to head a panel constituted to investigate rights abuses during 15 years of military rule between 1976 and 1999 when President Olusegun Obasanjo took office as elected president on 29 May, 1999.. making him the Chairman of the Oputa Panel.

'It's very sad that the great jurist has passed on. Having actively appeared before him, I can confirm that he was one of our finest legal minds. My prayers are with my friend Charly Boy (the deceased's son) and his family', former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba told Punch Newspaper.

Via: Thenet