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Late Justice Patience Onuwa Elumeze reportedly dies in Abuja after brief illness.
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Former President of Delta Customary Court of Appeal retired from service in 2023.
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Judiciary staff mourn a judge remembered for her reforms and compassion.
The immediate past President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Delta State, Hon. Justice Patience Onuwa Elumeze, has reportedly passed away two years after her retirement from active service.
Justice Elumeze, who was in her 60s, was said to have died on Tuesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, following a brief illness.
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Reliable sources within the Delta State Judiciary confirmed the sad development on Wednesday, disclosing that she passed away at a hospital where she was receiving treatment.
Justice Elumeze was first appointed Acting President of the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal in November 2020 by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, following the retirement of Justice Stella Ogene.
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She was formally sworn in as the substantive President of the court in June 2021 and served meritoriously until her retirement in April 2023.
During her tenure, Justice Elumeze was widely commended for implementing administrative reforms that improved judicial efficiency and enhanced the speedy dispensation of justice in Delta State’s customary courts.
When our correspondent visited the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal Headquarters along High Court Road, Asaba, discussions around her death dominated the atmosphere among staff and lawyers.
Some of the court staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described her passing as a huge loss to the judiciary family in the state.
They also remembered her as a kind, passionate, and hardworking leader who made significant contributions to justice delivery and the welfare of staff during her time in office.
