Breaking: Nsofo, immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to US dies at 85

From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja

The immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Justice Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor, is dead.

Aged 85, Nsofor, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, passed away Thursday evening in Washington D.C, United States of America.

The retired judge who received his letters of credence from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama in 2017, was amongst ambassadors directed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to handover to the most senior officers in their respective embassies/missions earlier in the year at the completion of their tenure.

Announcing the death of Nsofor, the Spokesperson, Ministry  of Foreign Affairs, Ferdinand Nwonye, in a statement issued  in Abuja, said: “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the sad duty to announce the passing, in Washington, of the immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America, His Excellency, Justice Sylvanus Nsofor.

“The former Nigerian envoy, a retired Justice of the Federal Court of Appeal, died on Thursday, December 10, 2020, after a brief illness.

“He is survived by his wife, Mrs Jane Nsofor, three children and grand children.

“The Ministry, on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, extends to Mrs. Nsofor and her family, deepest condolences and sympathy and prays for the peaceful repose of an outstanding and patriotic Nigerian public servant.”

Born on March 17, 1935, Nsofor, a native of Oguta, Imo State, was a member of the Appeal Court panel that decided the election petition filed by incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in 2003 as presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), against former President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was declared the winner of the election.

In search for the acquisition of knowledge, Nsofor attended the Holborn College of Law, London and the London School of Economics.

Nsofor was appointed a judge in 1977. He spent a total number of 28 years on the bench, 13 of which were as a Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA). He also taught Law at the Holborn College of Law in London‎.