James Ocholi is Dead – Minister of State for Labour
Labour minister, Ocholi, wife, son die in Kaduna-Abuja auto crash
Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr. James Ocholi, yesterday, died in a ghastly car crash along with his wife and son. Ocholi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, was appointed minister by President Muhammadu Buhari last year. The accident reportedly occurred at Rigana village on the Kaduna-Abuja Highway when their car had a burst tyre and summersaulted several times. A reliable source from the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, told our correspondent that Ocholi and his son died on the spot, while his wife, who sustained injuries died at the Doka Government Hospital, Kaduna, where she and other aides were rushed to.
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Read Friend’s Comment Below.
It’s natural death is inevitable no body knows his/her time and the circumstances through which one will die if not because of this reason the minister could have avoided the trip but God destined it to be and so it shall be,
My condolence to the President, Vice President, APC, the Kogi State and the entire family of Barrister James for the death of this promising family, Nigeria will ever remember him as an elder statesman who contributed and sacrifice his life for the betterment of common man and his county at large.
A senior official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, who did not want to be named, told our correspondent that the corpses were ordered by the Corps Marshal to be evacuated to Abuja immediately. “It is a sensitive issue and all our men who were involved in the rescue operations were officers from Kakau unit of Kaduna FRSC Sector Command. Our Corps Marshal ordered that the corpses should be evacuated to Abuja,” he said. Ocholi, who hailed from Kogi State was said to be heading to Abuja after an official assignment in one of the northern states. Kaduna State FRSC Sector Commander, Francis Udoma, told journalists that the accident occurred 57 kilometres away from Kaduna. He said: “The rear tyre bursted and the vehicle summersaulted. The minister and his son died on the spot, the wife died in the government hospital in Doka, Kaduna.
From Yahaya Bello Governor Kogi State.
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has expressed shock and devastation at the death of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barrister James Ocholi, SAN.
The Governor described the late Ocholi as a pragmatic, dynamic, humane and brilliant law officer, who was known around the world for his dexterous approach to legal and political issues and a one of the most unswerving constitutional lawyers Nigeria has ever produced.
Alh. Bello recollected with nostalgia, how the late Senior Advocate of Nigeria joined other progressive minded individuals around the country to drive the intellectual pillars of the All Progressives Congress, describing the late Ocholi as a complete gentleman who was irrevocably committed to the advancement of Nigeria.
He described the late Minister as a detribalized Nigerian who believed in the oneness of the nation, summing up his death as an irreparable loss to Kogi State, Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress and the legal profession. Bello prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed.
“The driver, the chief detail, the orderly and the P.A (Personal Assistant) were injured.” A graduate of law from the University of Jos, Ocholi was admitted into the inner chamber in 2007 and was chairman, Disciplinary Committee of the Abuja chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA. In 2011, he was governorship aspirant in Kogi State on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. Between 2013 and 2014, he was Deputy National Legal Adviser of All Progressives Congress, APC. Last year, he sought the APC gubernatorial ticket at the party’s primary election, losing to the late Abubakar Audu. Meanwhile, President Buhari has expressed shock and sadness over the death of the Ocholis.
Buhari has also sent the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Lawal Babachir to formally convey the news to members of the deceased family as well as parishioners in his place of worship. A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said Buhari described the late minister’s death as untimely, regretting that Nigeria has lost a key component of the change agenda. “Barrister Ocholi was an accomplished and patriotic Nigerian, who was keen to accept the call to service at a time his country needed him,” the President said. Buhari noted that in the few months he had been in Buhari last year. The accident reportedly occurred at Rigana village on the Kaduna-Abuja Highway when their car had a burst tyre and summersaulted several times.
A reliable source from the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, told our correspondent that Ocholi and his son died on the spot, while his wife, who sustained injuries died at the Doka Government Hospital, Kaduna, where she and other aides were rushed to. A senior official of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, who did not want to be named, told our correspondent that the corpses were ordered by the Corps Marshal to be evacuated to Abuja immediately. “It is a sensitive issue and all our men who were involved in the rescue operations were officers from Kakau unit of Kaduna FRSC Sector Command. Our Corps Marshal ordered that the corpses should be evacuated to Abuja,” he said. office, the late Minister of State had already begun to distinguish himself through his commitment and dedication to his portfolio.
The late Ocholi has had a long record of political association with President Buhari. Buhari also consoled with the government and people of Kogi State, whom he described as having lost a distinguished and irreplaceable son. He prayed that God would comfort them and grant them the grace to bear the loss. “The entire country mourns the loss of this great man, who has sadly left us when we need him most,” he said. APC aslso expressed shock over the deaths. The party’s National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni in a condolence message described the deaths as monumental losses to the family of the victims and the nation at large.
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Buni said the late Ocholi will be remembered for his selfless service to the country as minister, party, legal profession and his home state, Kogi. While extending his condolences to the people and government of Kogi State, Buni prayed to Almighty God to grant the immediate family of the Ocholis, the fortitude to bear the painful loss. Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello also expressed shock and devastation at the death of the minister. Bello described the late Ocholi as a pragmatic, dynamic, humane and brilliant law officer, who was known around the world for his dexterous approach to legal and political issues and one of the most unswerving constitutional lawyers Nigeria has ever produced.
The governor recollected with nostalgia, how the late SAN joined other progressive minded individuals around the country to drive the intellectual pillars APC, describing him as a complete gentleman, who was irrevocably committed to the advancement of Nigeria. He described the late minister as a detribalised Nigerian, who believed in the oneness of the nation, summing up his death as an irreparable loss to Kogi State, Nigeria, APC and the legal profession. In Kaduna State, Governor Nasir el-Rufai described the minister’s death as devastating.
In a statement by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, the governor said: “The state government extends its heartfelt condolences to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Ocholi family. “Our condolences go to members of the Federal Executive Council and the entire nation. The minister died at a critical time when his contributions in the ongoing national rebirth and realisation of the change mantra are needed. May the almighty God grant their souls eternal rest.”
Comments From Friends
If this account is correct then one wonders why the driver had to get an external radio message while on top speed since the dashboard is usually fitted with a low pressure indicator?
We don’t bother to check these things anymore and our road safety agents are not helping matters at all.
Let us use this opportunity to call for the enforcement of the NATIONAL SPEED LIMIT of 90km per hour. This disaster would have been avoided if they were travelling within this limit.
MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN PEACE. – Friend
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RIP Sir James Ocholi SAN, Hon Minister for state Labour and productivity. It’s with great sadness u had to leave us these soon, at a very crucial period when the good people of Kogi state and Nigeria in general need u most. Ur loss was a big a shock to all of us especially ur Associates,friends and family but who are we as human to question the Almighty. There is a say that life is a journey, so try to leaved the best of it,for ur deeds in ur life time it’s what will tell for u when u are gone. For u ,just when u about to enjoy the fruits of ur labour ur death is announced, an intellectual full of Energy, an archiver per Excellences. U indeed made a mark and left a great legacy behind for many to follow suit, what an irreplaceable loss to all.Rest in peace sir! Hon Yahaya Onimisi Audu. – Ikenna
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