Mike Ozekhome

Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome (born on October 15, 1957 in Iviukwe, Agenebode in Edo State, Nigeria) is a lawyer and human rights activist, holding the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.[1] He is known for his work as a constitutional lawyer.[2]

Education

Ozekhome obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B.) from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (at the time, known as the University of Ife), graduating in 1980. He then attended the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island Lagos (1981). Former chief Kanmi-Isola Osubu served as his pupil advisor following his admittance to the Nigerian Bar in July, 1981.[3] Thereafter, he returned to Obafemi Awolowo University to earn his Master of Laws (LL.M.), receiving the degree in 1983.[4]

Career

Prior to earning his LL.M., Ozekhome was posted to the Ministry of Justice, Yola as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and then to the Federal Ministry of Justice, Lagos State. From there, he served as state counsel for the National Provident Fund (now Nigerian Social Insurance and Trust Fund (NSITF).[5][6]

He then joined the chambers of the activist human rights lawyer and social crusader, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, where he gradually rose to become the Deputy Head of Chambers, a position he held till 1985. He founded his own multi-office firm, Mike Ozekhome's Chambers, in 1986.[6][7] In 2010, he was one of 19 senior legal practitioners conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.[2][8]

Kidnap and release

Ozekhome was randomly kidnapped on the Benin-Auchi motorway on 23 August 2013 and held for ransom.[9][10][11][12] Four policemen responding in an effort to thwart the kidnapping were killed.[10] The kidnapping garnered considerable media attention.[13][14][15] Held along with approximately a dozen others in what he described as a well-organized camp, Ozekhome was released after several weeks when ransom was negotiated with the kidnappers, returning home on 12 September 2013.[11][16] On 25 September 2013, wanted criminal Kelvin Prosper Oniarah was arrested by a combined security team of the Nigerian Army and DSS operatives for the kidnapping.[17]

References
  1. Ibekwe, Nicholas (24 August 2013). "Radical Lawyer Mike Ozekhome Kidnapped". The Premium Times. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  2. Ige, Ise-Oluwa (2 February 2010). "Ozekhome, Ogunba, Pinheiro 16 others make SANs list". Vanguard. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  3. Mike Ozekhome's Chambers's Website "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-06-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "About Mike"
  5. "Citation". Mike Ozekhome. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  6. National Mirror, "This life is vanity, empty, says Ozekhome (SAN) @ 55" "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-06-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. National Mirro, "Mike Ozekhome (SAN): Out of kidnappers’ den" "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2014-06-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "OZEKHOME, OGUNTADE, EKOMARU, 16 OTHERS BECOME SANS : NIGERIA GENERAL TOPICS, FREE, WEBSITES, INTERNET, SOCIETY, REAL ESTATES, BUSINESS". Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  9. "Gunmen kidnap prominent lawyer in southern Nigeria". AFP. 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  10. Ibekwe, Nicholas (2013-08-24). "Radical lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, kidnapped - Premium Times Nigeria". Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  11. Aninkuotu, Eniola (13 September 2013). "Ozekhome home, recounts ordeal in kidnappers' den". Punch. Archived from the original on 16 September 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  12. http://www.tvcnews.tv/?q=article/nigerian-human-rights-lawyer-mike-ozekhome-abducted
  13. "Gunmen kidnap prominent lawyer in southern Nigeria". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  14. Latestnigeriannews. "Ozekhome's kidnap". Latest Nigerian News. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  15. The Vanguard, "More reactions trail Ozekhome’s kidnap"
  16. "Ozekhome Admits Paying Ransom For Release". The ICIR. 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  17. The Vanguard, DSS, Army arrest Mike Ozekhome’s kidnapper.
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