Buhari, APC mourn James Ocholi, FRSC deposits corpse in Abuja morgue

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and sadness over the death of the Minister of State for Labour, Barrister James Ocholi, SAN, on Sunday.

Ocholi died alongside his wife and son in a car crash along Kaduna road, Abuja.

In a statement by Garba Shehu, the presidential spokesman, president Buhari described Ocholi’s death as untimely, regretting that Nigeria has lost a key component of the change agenda.

He also described the deceased as an accomplished and patriotic Nigerian. “Barrister Ocholi was an accomplished and patriotic Nigerian, who was keen to accept the call to service at a time his country needed him,” he said.

President Buhari also extended his condolences to the government and people of Kogi State.

In the same vein, the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) described the death of the Minister for Labour (State), James Ocholi (SAN) and his son as 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.

Meanwhile, the FRSC has said that it the remains of the late Minister of State for Labour, Mr James Ocholi, has been deposited at the morgue of the National Hospital, Abuja.

Bisi Kazeem, the Spokesperson of FRSC, confirmed in Abuja that the corpse of the minister was taken to the hospital along with two other casualties.

Kazeem explained that the deceased lost their lives in a crash that occurred at Kilometre 57, along Kaduna-Abuja highway on Sunday.

“The minister and two other occupants died eventually, while four people were injured,’’ said the spokesman.

However, Kazeem did not give details of the other victims of the crash.