Education
Mike Ozekhome was born on 15 October 1957 in Iviukwe, Agenebode, Edo State, Nigeria. He began his education at St. Mary's Catholic Primary School (now Athekhai Primary School), Iviukwe, where he excelled academically. He continued his secondary education at St. Peter’s College, Agenebode, and later attended Baptist Academy, Lagos. Ozekhome pursued higher education at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, earning a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree in 1980, during which he won numerous academic prizes. He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1981. In 1983, he returned to Obafemi Awolowo University to obtain a Master of Laws (LL.M.), further solidifying his legal expertise. Ozekhome has since earned multiple advanced degrees and certifications, including a Ph.D., JD, LL.D., D.Litt., D.Sc., D.Ed., D.Arts, and DLE from various institutions worldwide, reflecting his global academic distinction.Career
Ozekhome’s legal career began with his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posting to the Ministry of Justice in Yola, followed by a stint at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Lagos, where he served as state counsel for the National Provident Fund (now Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund). He later joined the chambers of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, GCFR, rising to Deputy Head of Chambers by 1985. In 1986, he established ''Mike Ozekhome’s Chambers (Legal Practitioners and Notaries Public)'', a multi-office law firm that has handled numerous landmark cases and pro bono work, securing the release of countless indigent individuals from unlawful detention. In 2009, Ozekhome was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee. His legal practice has shaped Nigerian jurisprudence through high-profile cases addressing constitutional law, human rights, and governance. He serves as Counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague and is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), International Bar Association (IBA), Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), African Bar Association (ABA), and Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU). A co-founder of Nigeria’s first human rights organization, the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Ozekhome has been a lifelong advocate for citizens’ rights. In 1985, alongside Chief Gani Fawehinmi, he co-founded the ''Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (NWLR)'', a leading legal publication. In 1998, he co-established the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON), instrumental in ending military rule in Nigeria. Ozekhome has participated in national reform efforts, including the Nigerian National Conferences of 2005, 2009, and 2014. He founded the Universal Defenders of Justice Initiative (UDJI) and the Mike Ozekhome Foundation (MOF), the latter providing aid to vulnerable communities. A prolific scholar, Ozekhome holds visiting professorships at various universities and contributes to global discourse on law and governance. He is a weekly columnist in Nigerian newspapers, a public affairs analyst, and a frequent television commentator. His advocacy has earned him titles such as Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM) and Senior Advocate of Nigerian Students (SANs) from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), as well as honorary citizenship of Atlanta, Georgia, and Dallas, Texas.Kidnap and release
On 23 August 2013, Ozekhome was kidnapped along the Benin-Auchi motorway in Edo State, Nigeria, while traveling with his driver. The abduction, which occurred at the Ehor stretch, resulted in the deaths of four policemen who attempted to intervene. Held with approximately a dozen others in what he described as a well-organized camp, Ozekhome endured captivity for three weeks. He was released on 12 September 2013 after a ransom was negotiated, an ordeal that garnered significant media attention and highlighted Nigeria’s security challenges at the time. On 25 September 2013, Kelvin Prosper Oniarah, a key suspect in the kidnapping, was arrested by a combined team of the Nigerian Army and Department of State Services (DSS). Ozekhome later recounted the experience as "20 days of mental torture," emphasizing his resilience and commitment to justice despite personal risk.References