Victor Ovie-Whiskey, a retired justice and one-time chairman of the Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, died July 18, aged 88.
He died at Agbarho Clinic, Agbarho, Ughelli North Council, Delta State, after a protracted illness. Ovie-Whiskey was called to the Bar in 1952 and rose to become the Chief Judge of the then Bendel State, before serving as FEDECO chairman between 1980 and 1983. The former Judge, who was born on April 6, 1924, attended Kings College, Lagos and later the University College, now University of Ibadan, before he went abroad to study Law at the University of London. The general elections, which he supervised in 1983 were marred by alleged widespread irregularities and accusations of electoral officials rigging the results in favour of the then ruling party, National Party of Nigeria. He passed on peacefully in his sleep, said a family source. A father of eight girls and one boy, Ovie-Whiskey in his old age, involved himself in community service, adjudicating in family matters, as well as the church.
By AJIBOLA AJISAFE
