Abiri Championed Uniform Retirement Age For Judges, Says Diri As Dignitaries Pay Tribute To Late Judge

Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen­ator Douye Diri, has described the late former Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kate Abiri, as an incorruptible, courageous and fearless jurist, who cham­pioned the cause for uniform retirement age for judges in the country.

Governor Diri said her ad­vocacy resulted in the law that unified the retirement age of state and federal judges at 70 years.

Unfortunately, he said the late Justice Abiri did not ben­efit from it as the President signed the bill into law after her retirement in January this year.

His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as speaking during her funeral service on Satur­day at Aleibiri community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.

Senator Diri said her death was a huge loss to Bayelsa as it has created a vacuum that will be difficult to fill.

The governor stated that she will be remembered for her meritorious service to the state and Nigeria at large.

The state’s helmsman noted that the number of dignitaries at her funeral was a testament to the good life she lived.

“For us, her demise is pain­ful but I hope we all take solace in her worthy legacies and which we must all sustain,” he said.

At the night of trib­utes held at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa on Thursday, Diri said the late CJ made impact nationally and that the Nigerian judi­ciary would always remem­ber her courage and fearless attributes that stood her out among judges.

He said he was pleased to have known her as a very fine, soft-spoken, simple and amia­ble daughter of Bayelsa.

In her tribute, former First Lady of Nigeria and wife of for­mer President Goodluck Jona­than, Dame Patience Jonathan, narrated her early days in the state where she approached the late Abiri to mentor her as wife of the deputy governor, stating that it was one of her best deci­sions in life.

Dame Jonathan said the sin­gular act of establishing friend­ship with Abiri gave birth to her pet project “A-Aruera Reach-out Foundation” which is still touching lives due to the team the former CJ introduced to her.

She described late Abiri as a prayer warrior, a close ally, unassuming and a careful lis­tener whose advice can always be counted upon.

The immediate past gover­nor of the state and Senator representing Bayelsa West Sen­atorial District, Chief Seriake Dickson, noted how proud he was whenever he heard testi­monies of her good deeds from colleagues in the legal profes­sion.

Sen. Dickson stated that the Bayelsa judiciary was stable under her, noting that the state will miss a quintessential Ijaw woman and a daughter of the Ijaw struggle.

Dignitaries that bid her farewell despite the heavy downpour included wife of the governor, Dr. Gloria Diri, wife of the deputy governor, Be­atrice Ewhrudjakpo, a former deputy governor and Speaker of the State Assembly, Werine­pre Seibarugu, and wife of the first civilian governor of the state, Margaret Alamieyesei­gha.

Also present were the Sen­ator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Dr. Konbowei Benson, Sagbama/ Federal Constituency repre­sentative, Dr. Fred Agbedi, his Ogbia Federal Constituency counterpart, Chief Mitema Obordor as well as the Yena­goa-Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency repre­sentative, Oforji Oboku.