Updated at 6pm Nigerian Time on March 6, 2016
Wife of James Ocholi has passed away in a Kaduna hospital following a fatal car crash Sunday afternoon.
Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai made the announcement on his Facebook page. “It is with great sadness that the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and Human Services further announces the death of Mrs. Ocholi at Doka Hospital, who was in coma since the accident near Rijana, along the Kaduna-Abuja Road,” he said.
Ocholi, who was minister of state for Labour and Employment passed away at the scene of the accident along with his son.
May the Lord receive their souls.
Original story
Tragedy has struck the federal cabinet in Nigeria as one of the key players in President Muhammadu Buhari’s government dies in a tragic motor accident.
James Enojo Ocholi was minister of State for Labour and Employment until his tragic passing on Sunday, March 6, 2016.
The senior lawyer and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) died in a car accident along Kaduna-Abuja Road, according to reports.
According to reports, Ocholi, who hails from Kogi State and his son died at the scene of the accident on Sunday afternoon. The minister’s wife and driver are in critical condition at Doka Clinic, which is near Kaduna.
The accident is said to have been caused when a tyre of the vehicle he was travelling in burst and car somersaulted.
Ocholi was a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a one-time chairman of the disciplinary committee of the Abuja chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association.
In 2011, he contested for governorship of Kogi State on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and lost. He made another attempt at governorship of Kogi seeking the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. He lost to the late Audu Abubakar. He was appointed minister by President Buhari in 2015.
Ocholi was also, at a time, deputy national legal adviser of the All Progressive Congress. He is a graduate of University of Jos. He graduated from the Nigerian Law School in 1986 and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in the same year.
Ocholi: We Are In Shock – APC
The National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has received news of the death of the Minister for Labour (State), James Ocholi (SAN) and his son with great shock and sadness.
The APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni in a condolence message described the deaths as a monumental loss.
Buni prayed for the recovery of other occupants of the ghastly vehicle accident including the late minister’s wife and driver who reportedly sustained serious injuries.
The APC National Secretary said the late Ocholi who was the party’s former Deputy National Legal Adviser will be remembered for his selfless service to the country as minister, party, legal profession and his home state, Kogi.
While extending his condolences to the people and government of Kogi state, Buni prayed to Almighty God to grant Ocholi’s immediate family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
