Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has stressed the need for judicial officers in the country to take their annual vacation seriously in the interest of productivity and their overall well being during and after active service.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo stated this over the weekend at a valedictory court session held in honour of Late Justice Young Emmanuel Ogola (Rtd) at the Chief Judge’s Court, Bayelsa State High Court Complex in Yenagoa.
The Deputy Governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, noted that judicial officers were under tremendous strain in view of the tasking nature of their duties and urged them to find time to rest in the midst of their tight work schedule.
His words: “There is no doubt that judicial officers in our country work under tremendous strain. They burn in the day and even at night. So, we really want to encourage you, that while it is a duty call to answer, it is also important to rest in midst of your very tight and jealous schedule.
“The time you have for your vacation should not be compromised. I say this because Nigerians including me like compromising everything including our health.
“You must rest because the work will continue even when you are not there, just as it will continue when you are there. So let us give ourselves rest.”
Paying tributes to the departed High Court Judge, Senator Ewhrudjakpo described late Hon. Justice Ogola (rtd), as a man of values, who never pursued materialistic gains at the expense of promoting the common good.
He said Justice Ogola was an embodiment of humility, steadfastness, and selflessness and urged the younger generation to emulate his attributes and all that he exemplified during his lifetime and service to the state.
According to him, the distinguished jurist belonged to the category of individuals whose impact was felt not only during his lifetime but also in death and his departure had created a large vacuum in the Ogola family, Sagbama Local Government and the state at large.
He said, “Justice Emmanuel Ogola (rtd), falls into the category of individuals whose impact was felt during his lifetime and also in death. So, no doubt a vacuum has been created both in his family, in Sagbama local government area, the Judiciary and the state at large.
” He was a man of values and not a man of valuables. Those who are men of valuables are materialistic in all their endeavours and strides. And so, they become veracious, malicious, deceitful and demonic when the valuables they crave for are not available.
“But those who are of values ensure that they live and let others live. Justice Ogola lived to let others live And so, we really want to recommend his attributes and all that he stood for to the younger generation of which l am a part.
” We need to learn from that. It is very important that we realize that we are not going to be judged by the wealth or other material things that we possess but God will judge us for the love we failed to show.”
Also, the State Chief Judge, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, eulogised the memory of Justice Ogola, stating that he was a man of honour and candour who gave his best years to the court of justice.
Justice Ayemieye noted that late Ogola served with integrity, diligence and exceptional administrative acumen while occupying the pivotal positions of Secretary to the Judicial Service Commission and Chief Registrar of the High Court of Justice, Bayelsa State.
According to her, Justice Ogola saw the judiciary not as a platform of power but a sacred trust for service and that he was a meticulous steward of justice who dispensed justice with calm, quiet strength and uncommon devotion.
To the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Biriyai Dambo (SAN), the late Ogola was more than a judge as he was a pillar of judicial excellence known for his depth of knowledge, fearlessness in the pursuit of justice and commitment to the rule of law.
He stated that throughout his distinguished career on the bench, Justice Ogola delivered landmark judgements that helped in shaping Nigeria’s jurisprudence, particularly in constitutional law and enforcement of human rights.
In his remarks, Mr Felix Okorotie (SAN), observed that most judicial officers die shortly after retirement due to tremendous work pressure while in active service.
He, therefore, called on the federal and state governments to provide special medical packages for both serving and retired judicial officers.
Speaking on behalf of the Yenagoa and Sagbama branches of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Chairman of Yenagoa NBA, Mr Clement Kekemeke, enjoined members of the bar and bench to sustain Late Ogola’s legacy of “upholding the law, shielding the vulnerable and championing the cause of righteousness.”
Late Justice Ogola was elevated to the High Court bench in May 2009 and served meritoriously for 10 years before bowing out in retirement.
After retirement, the Bayelsa State government appointed him and served as Chairman of the #EndSARS Judicial Panel of Inquiry and then later as Chairman of the state Physical Planning and Development Tribunal, a position he held until his demise on the 21st of April, 2025.
