A Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Jude Okeke has died.
Reporters At Large learnt that the judge, who was handling the alleged corruption trial of ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir Lawal and some others, died on Tuesday afternoon at the National Hospital, Abuja.
He was said to have died of diabetes and high blood pressure-related sickness, which he has been managing form sometime now.
The deceased was said to have complained of chest pain some days ago after which his condition deteriorated.
The spokesperson for the National Hospital, Dr Tayo Haastrup, confirmed that Justice Okeke died on Tuesday.
Justice Okeke hailed from Idemili North Local Government Area of Onitsha, Anambra State.
Justice Okeke was called to Bar in 1985 and completed his National Youth Service (NYSC), the following year.
Until his appointment to the bench of the FCT High Court in 2007, the late jurist was in active private legal practice and a former Chairman of the Unity Bar, Abuja.
Some other high profile cases Justice Okeke handled included the trial of a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adeniyi Ademola (now retired), his wife, Olubolade, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe Agi by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
In his ruling on April 5, 2017, he upheld the defendants’ no-case submissions and dismissed the case
His ruling was affirmed on February 28, 2018, by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
