about abai ikwechegh
greetings
I am Obi Ikwechegh,
the younger son of the Honorable Justice Abai Ikwechegh who lived a life of service until October, 2020 when he died in his home surrounded by his children.
My father was many things in the public sphere and I believe he will be remembered as an erudite jurist, a leader of thought, a devout Christian and one who received the national honors of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Obi Ikwechegh
his story
Ikwechegh was born on September 7th, 1923 in Igbere, in the Eastern part of Nigeria, to Chief Ogbonnaya Ikwechegh and Oyiri Ikwechegh.
He began early schooling in Igbere and then later attended the Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar. He taught briefly at Abiriba and Ututu in Eastern Nigeria and then at Owo in Western Nigeria, Western Boys High School in Benin City and Enitona College in Port Harcourt.
In 1951, he embarked on a journey to England to study law.
journey to england
father lived a life of significant consequence
He set out on the Elder Dempster steamer in the early 1950s to dock at Liverpool. Although quite certain of his intent to pursue legal education to become a Barrister at Law, he must have had some trepidation about the journey. Not only because he was leaving a familiar environment, was he also traveling under the strain of a tenuous guarantee of his required financial obligations to the Home Office in the United Kingdom? During his sojourn in England, our father would lose the commitment of his guarantor and his living would be marked by the unnecessary choices between basic life’s comforts and completion of his legal coursework. One can only imagine the mental strain and worry he had to endure to become successful in his endeavor.
the
english bar
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 in Eastern Nigeria and in 1957 set up practice in Jos in Northern Nigeria.
He was appointed a Magistrate 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.
his
achievements
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.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.
No one should have to acquire education under such Herculean strain. Our father had help from unexpected sources including the community of his birth place. This experience not only strengthened his faith in the grace of God but also planted a seed in him that well-meaning people could extend help to the less privileged and more challenged. His life and examples are what compel us towards the dream of..
building a
foundation
the abai ikwechegh foundation
The goals are to ensure/provide a set of greater certainties to willing people who wish/seek legal training to become barristers at law.
We imagine that being able to ensure consistent financial support, mentorships, access to clerkships/ Internships will imbue in such people the requisite skill and mind set required for community enlightenment and transformation.
- Financial Support
- Mentorships
- Clerkships/Internships
Family
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apply now!
The Abai Ikwechegh Foundation’s mission is to help those seeking knowledge and success within law. We imagine that being able to ensure consistent financial support, mentorships, access to clerkships/ Internships will imbue in such people the requisite skill and mind set required for community enlightenment and transformation.