Omoku chiefs mourn ex Rivers CJ, Ichoku; describe deceased as rare gem

Brave Dickson

The Omoku Council of Chiefs in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State has mourned the passing of a former Chief Judge of Rivers State, Retired Justice Felix Ichoku.

The former state chief judge was reported to have died on Monday at aged 89 after battling with prolonged illness.

In their tributes to the late CJ, Chief Ikechuku Ojoba who spoke on behalf of the Omoku Council of Chiefs told our correspondent that Ichoku should be given the credit for making Ogba kingdom to have the highest number of lawyers in the state.

According to the chiefs, “the late Hon Justice Felix Ichoku was a rare gem, whose life time was so exemplary and source of encouragement to many persons.

“His legal profession in the judicial sector influenced many of our young ones to choose legal studies and today, Ogba kingdom is among the communities that has the highest number of lawyers in Rivers State.”

Born 17th August, 1934; Justice Ichoku
attended St Michael’s School, Omoku and Okrika Grammar School, Okrika, respectively.

He later Proceeded to Holborn College of Law, London and got his first appointment as Magistrate in 1967.

He became a Chief Magistrate in 1972; Chief Registrar in 1975 and had served as high court judge since 1979 before he was appointed the state chief judge from 1999 to 2001 under the administration of former Governor Peter Odili.