Justice Abai Ikwechegh (OFR) (7 September 1923 – 12 October 2020) was a Nigerian jurist.

Biography

Ikwechegh was born on 7 September 1923 in Igbere, in the Eastern part of

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of G ...

, to Chief Ogbonnaya Ikwechegh, a slave

merchant A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as indust ...

and trader and Oyiri Ikwechegh.Biography of Justice Abai ikwechegh: Amadi Awa 97897828335031 He began early schooling in Igbere and then later attended the Hope Waddell Training Institute in

Calabar Calabar (also referred to as Callabar, Calabari, Calbari and Kalabar) is the capital city of Cross River State, Nigeria. It was originally named Akwa Akpa, in the Efik language. The city is adjacent to the Calabar and Great Kwa rivers and ...

. He taught briefly at Abiriba and Ututu in Eastern Nigeria and then at Owo in Western Nigeria, Western Boys High School in

Benin City Benin City is the capital and largest city of Edo State, Nigeria. It is the fourth-largest city in Nigeria according to the 2006 census, after Lagos, Kano, and Ibadan, with a population estimate of about 3,500,000 as of 2022. It is situated ...

and Enitona College in Port Harcourt. In 1951, he embarked on a journey to

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

to study law. In 1955, he qualified as a lawyer and was called to the English Bar in the same year. He was of the Lincolns Inn barrister at Law. From 1956, he practiced briefly in

Aba ABA may refer to: Businesses and organizations Broadcasting * Alabama Broadcasters Association, United States * Asahi Broadcasting Aomori, Japanese television station * Australian Broadcasting Authority Education * Académie des Beaux- ...

in Eastern Nigeria and in 1957 set up practice in

Jos Jos is a city in the north central region of Nigeria. The city has a population of about 900,000 residents based on the 2006 census. Popularly called "J-Town", it is the administrative capital and largest city of Plateau State. During British ...

in Northern Nigeria. He was appointed a

Magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a ''magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...

in 1960. He was notable as a Magistrate for policing roads and arresting reckless taxi drivers and trying them himself. This pitched him against authorities and left many wondering if this was not an abuse of judicial powers. In 1972, he was appointed a Judge of the East Central State of Nigeria, He later became Judge of the Imo State judiciary and acted severally as the Chief Judge of the State. In 1982, he was appointed a Justice of the Court of Appeal. He declined this appointment but later buckled under pressure. He thereafter served and retired voluntarily from the Court of Appeal, in 1988. During his career as a judge, he headed many panels, tribunals, and commissions of inquiry. In January 1976, the government of East Central State appointed Ikwechegh to chair the Administrative Tribunal to investigate the circumstances which led to the execution of Contracts for Data Processing Equipment. Also in 1977, he was appointed by the Federal Military Government to the Land Acquisition Control Tribunal. He also headed the Imo State Chieftaincy Panel in 1978, known as the Ikwechegh Panel which had laid down guidelines for government recognition of Traditional Rulers. He also served as the first chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede from January 1977 to June 1980. He also served as the chairman of the governing council of the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri, from January 1991 to November 1992. He was succeeded by Professor M.O. Ijere.http://alvanikoku.edu.ng>about-us He was a devout Christian and an elder of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria. He served also as chairman of the Board of Church Life of the Presbyterian Church with Phyllis Van Garpen as secretary. Ikwechegh would unabashedly declare both in open court as a judge and informal gathering of his conviction in the supremacy and healing power of God and as the only hope of redemption for mankind. He held the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was married to Chief(Mrs) Mercy Ikwechegh and both had six children. Ikwechegh died on 12 October 2020, aged 97.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ikwechegh, Justice Abai 1923 births 2020 deaths Nigerian jurists People from Abia State Nigerian expatriates in the United Kingdom