They say all the good ones die young and maybe there’s some truth in that. You don’t have to think for too long to remember some great people who left all too soon; Diana the Princess of Wales, Bob Marley, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and so on. Death knows no boundaries or age and doesn’t respect anyone, but in James Enoch Ocholi Nigeria and indeed the world has lost a true gem.
He was born on the 26th of November 1960 in Kogi state. An independence child, he went on to study law at the University of Jos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986. He worked as a public counsel for a short period before moving on to private practice.
As a man, James Ocholi didn’t grow up with much. His father had to take care of not just his siblings but cousins too and therefore the budget was stretched to breaking point.
James Ocholi attended public schools before gaining admission into the University of Jos.
As a legal practitioner, James Ocholi lost his first ten cases which could be pretty damaging to a young lawyer just starting out, but he turned it around appealing all those lost cases at the high court and winning them all. This was the start of a great legal adventure. He attained the level of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on the 12th of December 2007 after a failed attempt the year before.
He met Kehinde Onafowokan SAN (also late) in 1998 and this pushed his Legal Practice to even higher climes. He relocated to Lagos where he was very successful before move to Abuja where he experienced even more success winning cases and building an enviable reputation as a great man and lawyer.
Personally he was a God fearing man. He was the President of the Businessmen’s Fellowship International Ankpa chapter which was the central chapter of over 35 other chapters. While there he developed a close relationship with God with whom he credits all the good in his life. He was a loving man, married to Fatima Blessing Ocholi they had five children, the eldest of which died in the car crash with his parents. Mrs. Ocholi died later in the hospital.
On the political front he contested the governorship of Kogi state losing to Idris Wada in 2011, but was selected by the Buhari administration as minister of Labour and Employment in 2015. His performance during the screening exercise endeared him to numerous Nigerians and he was sure to perform well in the given role.
He died tragically on the 6th of March 2016 along with his wife and eldest son in a car accidents.
There’s a saying that goes ‘Live full, die empty’ James Enoch Ocholi died way too young, but just a glance at his achievements and the tributes that have poured in from all and sundry show that he certainly lived full and while he had loads still to give, he will never be forgotten in the hearts and minds of Nigerians everywhere.
Maybe all the good ones do die young, but they live on forever in the hearts of the people they’ve impacted.
Rest in Peace James Enoch Ocholi.