This week, our personality is Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, as he marked his 67th birthday on October 13, 2024, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, praising and describing him as an “extraordinary man” and “radical” advocate for positive change.
Interestingly, this legal icon marked the celebration with presentation of 50 books at Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, and sharing of money, soft drinks and foodstuff to inmates of the IDP Camp, Durumi, Abuja.
He is a renowned Constitutional Lawyer, Human Rights Activist, Pro-Democracy Campaigner, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), Bencher, Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM); Voice of the People (VOP), Senior Advocate of Nigerian Students (SANS); Notary Public of Nigeria, Patriot, Pan-Nigerian, Pan-Africanist, Author, Researcher, Scholar, Multi-Columnist, Philosopher, Thinker, Motivational Speaker, Social Critic, Public Affairs Analyst, and Knight of the Order of St. Mulumba (KSM).
He is a Counsel at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands. He is a Fellow of Rotary International; Chartered Arbitrator, Mediator, Conciliator and Negotiator; Bencher and member of the NBA National Executive Committee (NEC).
As a student and lover of law, philosophy, logic, sociology, classics, literature, history, international affairs, and the scriptures, Ozekhome has a way with words. He possesses profound oratorical skills which enable him strike the right chord, when he speaks, while painting mentally-recorded pictures with words.
This legal icon hails from Iviukwe town, near Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. His late parents, Chief Abu Ozekhome and Chief (Madam) Alimoh Abu Ozekhome, though of humble backgrounds, without material wealth, were lovers of education, respected Chiefs and Community leaders, who inspired the young Mike and nurtured him with the best virtues and traditions of nobility and character that humanity can bestow – honesty, humility, fear of God, hardwork, selflessness, service to humanity, courage and daring bravado.
He attended St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Iviukwe, and St. Peter’s College, Agenebode, both in which he made the best graduating results. Baptist Academy, Lagos, in 1975 and the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), (Ile-Ife), wherefrom he graduated in 1980, after losing one academic year to enable him change from his English language original course of study to law, his passion.
His university internship was always with fiery peoples lawyer, late Kanmi Isola-Osobu, while his NYSC was with the Federal Ministry of Justice, Yola, and later, Lagos, wherefrom he was seconded to the then National Provident Fund, Lagos.
By 1982, Dr Mike Ozekhome was back to Ife to pursue his Masters degree programme in Law. He also lectured simultaneously, and thereafter, at the same Law Faculty. Many of his students are today Judges, Justices of appellate courts, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, top entrepreneurs, Diplomats, Captains of Industry, top military brass and Professors. He later joined the ever busy and pro-masses chambers of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, where he worked, first, as a junior counsel, later as a senior counsel; and finally rose to the highest position of Deputy Head of Chambers by 1985.
He has handled many epochal cases that have helped to define and shape the legal regime and nigerian legal jurisprudence, thus helping enthrone a favourable climate for the sustenance of human rights, democracy, good governance and the rule of law.
In 1986, he founded the law firm of Mike Ozekhome’s Chambers, with thriving offices in Lagos, Abuja, Benin City and his home town, Agenebode. His law firms handle many cases probono.
In 2005, he was a federal government delegate to the National Political Reform Conference, (NPRC), representing Civil Societies. In 2009, he was a federal government delegate to the Vision 2020 Conference, to help chart a course for making Nigeria one of the twenty leading economies in the World by the year 2020. earlier in 2001, he had chaired the federal government panel that recalled many lecturers and students who had been politically victimized during successive military dictatorships. In 2014, he was a federal government delegate to the National Conference, wherein he was nicknamed the “Cicero of the Conference”, by the Conference leadership, for his sterling performance and contributions.
Using law as an instrument of socio-economic and political engineering, Ozekhome in 1987 co-founded the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), the first human rights organisation in Nigeria. He was the pioneer Director of Legal Services and member of its Governing Board. In 1998, he co-founded the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON), with the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who was chairman. Ozekhome was the National Vice Chairman, publicity and publications. He had, earlier in 1992, solely founded the Universal Defenders of Democracy (UDD), an international human rights and pro-democracy league. He also founded the Democratic Rights Agenda (DRA) and Peace Initiative (PI), a peace building and conflict resolution centre. Ozekhome was frequently detained several times, starting from 1986, on account of his human rights and pro-democracy activities, especially during despotic and repressive military juntas.
In 1990, he was glowingly acknowledged by the Lawyers Committee For Human Rights, New York, in its 1989 and 1990 Annual Reports: “In Defence of Rights: Attacks On Lawyers and Judges”, as one victim of human rights abuses, in Nigeria.
He later founded Mike Ozekhome Foundation (MOF), a wholly philanthropic and charitable organization, committed to helping the youth, widows, the poor, vulnerable and down-trodden. A consummate author who has written many law books and numerous national discourse books, he has attracted to himself numerous traditional and honorary chieftaincy titles from across the length and breadth of Nigeria, the most famous of which is AKPAKPA VIGHI VIGHI OF EDO LAND (Generalissimo and Commander of the traditional Armed Forces of Edo land). This is a title that was jointly conferred on him at Ekpoma, Edo State, on March 2, 2002, by all the 72 Traditional Rulers of Edo State, a feat never before achieved by any person.
He has received over 300 awards and honours, both locally and internationally. He holds the honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D), Doctor of Letters (D.Litt), Doctor of Administration (DA), Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD), Doctor of Letters (HonDL), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), from various Universities in USA, United Kingdom, Israel, Nigeria and Belize City, Belize, Central America. A Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, Dr Ozekhome is an International Ambassador of Peace, honoured with the Global Peace Loving Citizen of the World, (GPLCW), the highest honour given out by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration (FCIArb), fellow, Academy of Entrepreneurial Studies (F.AES), fellow, National Institute for Education and Research (FNIER), fellow, Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM), Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (F.chMC), Institute of Corporate Affairs Management (F.ICA), fellow, Institute of Trade and Management of Nigeria (F.ITMN), fellow, Professional Excellence Foundation of Nigeria(DEPEFON), fellow, International Association of Research Scholars & Administrator(FIARSA), fellow, Chartered Institute of Human Capital Development of Nigeria (F.hcd), fellow, Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC), fellow, Centre for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development (FCLED), Life fellow, International Biographical Centre (IBC), (LFIBA) etc. Ozekhome was conferred with the Honorary Special Marshal by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). He is recipient of the awards of Herbert Macaulay Leadership, African Global Integrity, Legend and Hero of Democracy, ECOWAS, Niger Delta Excellence, “Legal Icon in Nigeria”, by Guardian Newspapers (2012), Icon of Peace, Icon of Societal transformation. Most Outstanding Young Person in Nigeria, by Jaycees International, Peter Benson Human Rights awards, etc.
Amongst others, Dr Ozekhome is Counsel at the International Criminal Court, at The Hague, in The Netherland, 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century, Legal Adviser, Amnesty International(A.I.), Nigerian Chapter, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Youth Enhancement Organization (YEO), Member, Transparency in Nigeria (affiliate of Transparency International, Man of the year for Nigeria, by the American Biographical Institute (ABI), USA, Secretary-General, United Cultural Convention, International Man of the year by UCC, “Ambassador of Nigeria”, by the World Forum Federation (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015); inducted in to the American Hall of Fame (2011); honoured with a medal as one of the “Great Minds of the 21st Century” by ABI; “Lifetime Achievement Award”, by UCC; etc. Ozekhome is Honorary citizen and Ambassador of Goodwill to the state of Georgia, and City of Dallas, USA. He has been featured in many Biographies such as “Man of the Year, 1999”, by IBC, Cambridge, England, “One of 2000 Intellectuals in the World” by IBC, “One of the outstanding personalities of the 20th century” by IBC, “One of the 100 sports personalities of the 20th Century”, by Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos State Chapter; one of the leading Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, published by GEM Communication Resources (2012).
He has been featured variously in Dictionary of International Biography (“Who is Who in the World”), by IBC, Cambridge, England, 28th and 29th Editions, “Who is Who in Nigeria”, by NIBC, Lagos, “Who is Who in Nigeria,” by NewsWatch Publications Ltd, etc.
Amongst others, he is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA), Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), African Bar Association (A.B.A), Pan African Lawyer Union (PALU), American Bar Association (ABA), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), National Executive Committee, Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Island Club, Usagbe Club of Nigeria, Etsako Club ’81, etc.
The generalissimo has over the years spoken truth to authority, challenged dictatorial anti-people decisions of any government in power, and insisted that the primary purpose of government which is security and welfare of the people cannot be compromised on the altar of fear, sentiments and sheer emotion. An anti-corruption czar who first propounded the theory that corruption is the 37th State of Nigeria, and the wealthiest and most potent (which must therefore be killed before it kills us), Ozekhome has however kicked against impunity and insisted that the fight against corruption can not be used wantonly decimate the cherished rights, freedoms and liberties of the citizens, but must be fought within known parameters of Constitutionalism and the rule of law. Ozekhome’s crusades go beyond answering the questions. He questions the answers. In discussing national issues with uncommon passion, Ozekhome does not leave any stone unturned and any turn unstoned.
His passion for justice pitches him now and again with authorities and ruling powers. He fights for the defenceless. He gives voice to the voiceless; empowers the weak, the poor, the denied, the pauperized, the traumatised, the marginalized, the hopeless, the oppressed, the hapless, the repressed, the subjugated, the ignored, the forgotten, and the struggling members of the hoi-polloi and Frantz Fanon’s “Wretched of the Earth”.
No words can more perfectly describe this legal prodigy than the very words of “Northern Youth Initiative for Peace and Good Governance”, (NYIPGG), when it conferred on him, SAN, at Abuja, the “National outstanding Leadership Award, 2017 As Icon of Societal transformation”, on the 6th of October, 2017. It wrote of Ozekhome in its citation, as follows:
Integrity, credibility and success are not bestowed but are basically earned through an articulated vision, dint of hard work, professionalism and dedication. These are the variables upon which Chief Mike Ozekhome the Constitutional lawyer and human rights activist daily life revolves. He is a symbol of total embodiment and commitment to excellence in the act of public administration and management. He has continued to inspire and energize present and future generations by epitomizing outstanding management excellence, efficiency, transparency, prudence and selfless services in different capacities where he has served meritoriously in the recent time. A man who felt good is not good enough where better is possible, leaders make things possible; exceptional leaders make them inevitable.
Married to a lawyer and gender crusader, Lady (Chief) Josephine Mike Ozekhome, LL.M, with seven children.
