Buhari leads the way in paying tribute to labour minister Ocholi who died in car crash

MINISTER of state for labour Chief James Ocholi and his wife have died along with their son in a fatal car crash along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway yesterday after his Prado sports utility vehicle lost a tyre and crashed.

 

In a terrible tragedy, Chief Ocholi, 55 and his son, Aaron Enojo, 20, died instantly at the spot, while his wife, Blessing Fatima, passed away in hospital. Mrs Ocholi, a registrar at Salem University, Sokoto, was said to have died later from injuries sustained in the crash, which happened after the rear tyre of the SUV they were travelling in burst.

 

President Muhammadu Buhari is one of those who have paid tribute to the minister, expressing his shock and sadness over the development. Francis Udoma, the Kaduna State sector commander of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), explaining that the minister and his family members died 57km away from Kaduna, after the rear tyre of their SUV burst and the vehicle skidded off the road and somersaulted several times.

 

Mr Udoma said: “The rear tyre burst and the vehicle somersaulted into the bush and the minister and his son died on the spot, while the wife died in the government hospital at Doka, Kaduna.  His driver, the chief detail, the orderly and the personal assistant, were injured and are receiving treatment.”

 

Among those who have paid tribute to Chief Ocholi include the secretary to the government of the federation Babachir Lawal, the Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello and the minister of labour Chris Ngige. Health minister Professor Isaac Adewole, Dr Jaf Momoh, and the chief medical director of the hospital, Dr Tayo Haastrup, also expressed their shock at the development.

 

Garba Shehu, President Buhari's spokesman, said: “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 entire country mourns the loss of this great man, who has sadly left us when we need him most."

 

President Buhari extended his condolences to the government and people of Kogi State, who he described as having lost a distinguished and irreplaceable son.  Governor Bello of Kogi State described the late Chief 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.