Posted by By Abimbola Akosile on
Oscar Umusabor, one of those on board the ill-fated Bellview Airline plane which crashed at Lisa, Ifo, came to Lagos on Saturday, October 22, to attend a poverty eradication awareness programme.
Oscar Umusabor, one of those on board the ill-fated Bellview Airline plane which crashed at Lisa, Ifo, came to Lagos on Saturday, October 22, to attend a poverty eradication awareness programme. He arrived Lagos with his two friends, and left for Abuja on return journey with same friends. All three perished in the crash which claimed 117 lives.
Above details were revealed by Alhaji Femi Okunnu, popular Lagos lawyer in an emotional telephone chat with THISDAY yesterday. The dead lawyer, aged 33 years, who joined Femi Okunnu & Co Law Chambers, Victoria Island, in 1999, was also head of the Abuja Chambers of same firm until his untimely demise.
"Oscar was a very hard-working man, very intelligent, competent and loyal. He was a good lawyer who treated the clients with respect and professional amiability. He not only worked in my chambers, but he managed the chamber's office at Abuja. Oscar, who joined the chambers in 1999 after his NYSC scheme, was always happy with clients (one of whom is sitting right in front of me) and they were in turn happy with him.
"The young man, who unfortunately was unmarried at the time of his death, was like a son to me, not just a professional colleague. He was very honest and could sign the chamber's cheques in Abuja. However, he would not sign a single cheque without talking to me, and I would cajole him to do so. He resolved to imbibe the good qualities in the chambers and was not given to frivolity.
"He came to Lagos with two of his friends on that day (Saturday). One of them was a coordinator of the Poverty Alleviation Programme and they held a corporate awareness of their mission in Victoria Island here on said day.
This showed the serious side of him. All the three of them died in that plane crash. They had not come for a party, but a worthy cause on how to reduce poverty in our society. That was what Oscar came to Lagos to do.
He was not given to frivolity. He led a good life. He was a good Nigerian.
"Oscar was not married though he was planning to. That is the greater part of his loss. He had not put down any root in marriage before he died. His father, a retired police officer, is also a member of the Bar in Benin. He left his two parents who are mourning him. We are mourning him here too. I miss him, I miss Oscar. A delegation of lawyers will travel to Benin tomorrow (today) to commiserate with the parents on behalf of myself and the chambers.
We want to talk to them and find out what we can do. We have to do what the father wants. Whatever is required for Oscar, we will do", Okunnu said.
Oscar Umusabor, born on January 22, 1972, hailed from Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Edo State. He attended Olua Primary School in Benin City between 1977 - 1983. He was at Edokpolor Grammar School, Benin-City (1983 -1988), Edo State University, Ekpoma (1990- 1996), Nigerian Law School (96 -97), before his NYSC scheme in Jos in 1998, after which he joined Femi Okunnu Chambers in 1999, where he rose to become head of chambers, Abuja office.