In a moment of profound grief, thousands of sympathisers, well-wishers, family members, judges, lawyers, and judiciary staff gathered on Friday at the multipurpose hall of the judiciary headquarters in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to bid farewell to the departed Judge of the State High Court, Felicitas Joshua Ibanga.
As judges and lawyers in their black robes filed past the gold-plated white casket during the lying-in-state ceremony, the stark reality of life’s fragility and the inevitability of death resonated deeply with those present. Judge Ibanga had recently participated in the Sokoto election petition tribunal in October 2023, despite her declining health.
Akwa Ibom Chief Judge, Ekaete Fabian-Obot, paid a heartfelt tribute, describing the late Ibanga as an illustrious and worthy daughter of Akwa Ibom State. She remembered her as a gentle, soft-spoken, and hardworking judge. “She was very strict, upright, incorruptible, and an erudite jurist well-versed in the law and decorum as expected of a revered jurist,” the Chief Judge added.
Judge Ibanga began her law practice in 1992 at Olakunle Morohundiya and Co. in Ikeja, Lagos State, as a solicitor and advocate. She joined F.O. Onyebueke and Co., Calabar, Cross River State, between 1993 and 1995. According to her biography, she was employed in 1993 by Lex Fori Partners, where she worked with Assam Assam, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a legal luminary from the region.
In 2001, Ibanga transitioned from private practice to become a state counsel with the Ministry of Justice, Akwa Ibom State. She rose to the position of substantive director in 2014, a post she held until her appointment as a judge of the High Court of Akwa Ibom State. Throughout her career, she exhibited a high sense of responsibility, good conduct, and brilliance, making her a model for emulation at the bar and on the bench.
Born into a Catholic family, she later joined the Church of Christ following her marriage. She served as the secretary and legal adviser of the board of trustees of the Church of Christ until her death. Her family values and Christian upbringing allowed her to adapt to any environment, earning her the love and respect of all who knew her.
In his tribute, her husband, Joshua Ibanga, expressed the depth of his loss, describing his late wife as a precious jewel. “It is a misfortune that one would not wish even for his worst enemy. Although death is the end of every mortal, yours is a tremendous loss to me, our children, and the entire family. I often lie awake at night when the world is fast asleep to take a walk down memory lane in tears, wishing it is a bad dream. I pinch myself, feel the pain, a sad reminder that your death is real and very painful,” he said.
Other tributes poured in from individuals and various groups, highlighting her impactful life and career.
The late High Court Judge, Felicitas Joshua Ibanga, passed away at the age of 57, leaving behind her husband and four children.
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