Eastern Bar Forum [EBF] Mourns As Twin Deaths Hits The Forum

“Life is brief, a little hope, a little dream and then a good night” per Leon Montanaekan, 1859

The Eastern Bar Forum has been thrown into mourning with the twin deaths in quick succession of Sir Granville Isetima Abibo SAN, KSC and Sir Chuma Nwosu all of NBA Port Harcourt Branch.

The two legal giants died on same day on 15th June, 2020 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Sir Granville Isetima Abibo SAN, KSC served the Port Harcourt Branch as Chairman between 2004-2006. He chaired so many committee’s of the Branch and also served in various committees at the national level. G.I. Abibo SAN is a strong, committed, responsible and reliable member of the Eastern Bar Forum. He was conspicuously present at the penultimate meeting of the EBF held in Port Harcourt on 16th November, 2019 and contributed in no small measure toward the hosting of the meeting. In fact he made the first donation towards the successful hosting of said meeting. Abibo was a bar man, his love for the bar, his colleagues, associates and the legal profession is unparalleled. He also chaired the Okrika Born Lawyers( a forum of Lawyers of Okrika Ethnic extraction) for so many years and his long tenure as Chairman became possible due to his leadership acumen, dexterity, sagacity and his all inclusive inclinations.

Sir Chuma Nwosu was Chairmen of the Igbo Lawyers Forum, Rivers State Chapter. Called to the Bar in 1990, he served the Port Harcourt Branch as Chairman of several committees. His love to serve the Branch propelled him to run for the office of Vice Chairman in 2016. Despite the loss at the elections, his love for the branch and the fire in him to continue to serve was unquenchable. Even after the said elections, he chaired and served in several committees of the Branch.

Sir Chuma Nwosu was a strong, committed and dedicated member of the Eastern Bar Forum. He alongside the current Governor of the EBF joined the forum in 2010. He remained steadfast and unshaken in his membership of the forum until his demise.

We lost these two gentlemen on Monday, 15th June, 2020 to the grim reaper in quick succession.

Yes we mourn, yet we remember the words of John Donne when he said ” death be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful for thou art not so for one short sleep past, we wake eternally and death shall be more, death thou shall die” Our brothers, friends and colleagues Sir Granville Isetima Abibo SAN and Sir Chuma Nwosu have woken up eternally by conquering death and death cannot be proud.

As we commiserate with the families of Sir Granville Isetima Abibo SAN and Sir Chuma Nwosu, the Nigeria Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, the Okrika Born Lawyers, the Igbo Lawyers Forum, Rivers State Chapter, we stand bold and proud to proclaim that our departed colleagues lived a good and worthy life. A life we are proud to stand strong and say “YES THESE WERE MEN”

Nnamdi R. Anagor
Publicity Secretary, EBF.