Appeal Court judge slated for promotion to Supreme Court, slumps, dies
He delivered judgement on Ogun Gubernatorial election petition in late November
The Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Port-Harcourt Division, Justice Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh has passed away.
Justice Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh only late last month delivered the majority judgment of the appellate court dismissing the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party candidate Ladi Adebutu in the 2023 governorship election in Ogun State.
Justice Ikyegh, a native of Benue State was reportedly making a telephone call on Wednesday afternoon at his Makurdi residence located at the Achussa Community area of the state capital when he slumped and subsequently died.
The death of Justice Ikyegh came to light when the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese during a public function in Makurdi called for a minute silence in his honour.
Sources said family members had tried to save him by rushing him to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, Makurdi, but the efforts were abortive as he was confirmed dead by medical doctors there.
The late jurist recently made the list of the 22 Justices of the Court of Appeal shortlisted by Federal Judicial Service Commission, FJSC, and forwarded to the National Judicial Council, NJC, to be promoted to the apex court from the North Central, on reserve basis.
