Justice Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh, a federal appellate judge, has reportedly passed away in his hometown of Makurdi.
Peoples Gazette reports that the 65-year-old, who was the president of the Port Harcourt Division, reportedly collapsed before his family members and was pronounced dead.
Justice Ikyegh’s death comes at a critical time when processes for his elevation to the Supreme Court were underway.
Born in 1958, Justice Ikyegh was among the judges slated for elevation as associate justices of the Supreme Court. The elevation process had commenced and was expected to conclude before December 31, 2023.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) spokesperson did not immediately respond to inquiries about the judge’s demise.
Recently, political opposition in Ogun State accused the late judge of receiving bribes to uphold Governor Dapo Abiodun’s reelection.
He presided over a panel that upheld a lower tribunal decision regarding Governor Abiodun’s certification by the electoral body, INEC.
