Mike Ozekhome

SAN
Chief Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome
Born (1957-10-15) 15 October 1957
Iviukwe, Agenebode, Edo State, Nigeria
Alma materObafemi Awolowo University
OccupationsLawyer and human rights activist

Mike Agbedor Abu Ozekhome (born on 15 October 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] and also an orator.[3]

Education

Ozekhome was born on 15 October 1957 in Iviukwe, Agenebode, Edo State, Nigeria.[4] He began his education at St. Mary's Catholic Primary School (now Athekhai Primary School), Iviukwe, where he excelled academically. He continued at St. Peter's College, Agenebode, and later attended Baptist Academy, Lagos. He studied law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, earning a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 1980, during which he received several academic prizes. He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, and was called to the bar in July 1981. In 1983, he obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, further solidifying his legal expertise. Ozekhome has since received 14 honorary doctorate degrees, including a Ph.D., JD, LL.D., D.Litt., D.Sc., D.Ed., D.Arts, DLE and Hon.DL from various institutions worldwide.[5] He received his Hon.DL (Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa), as well as several awards ("One of the Great Minds of the 21st Century", "One of the 100 Outstanding Personalities of the 20th Century", "International Man of the Year", etc.) from the International Biographical Center (IBC). This institution is notorious for creating awards and certificates[6] and selling them for US$495 around the year 2004.[7] He was also featured in several of the publication's "Who is Who" scam[6] reference works such as "Who is Who in Edo State", "Who is Who in Etsako", and  "Who is Who in the Legal profession".[5]

Kidnap and release

Ozekhome was randomly kidnapped on the Benin-Auchi motorway on 23 August 2013 and held for ransom.[8][9][10][11] Four policemen responding in an effort to thwart the kidnapping were killed.[9] The kidnapping garnered considerable media attention.[12][13][14] 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.[10][15] 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.[16]

References

  1. PressReader - ThisDay, 21 Dec 2014
  2. The Sun Nigeria - Mike Ozekhome: Firebrand Who Dares
  3. MuckRack - Mike Ozekhome SAN Articles
  4. PunchNG - EFCC Defeating Court
  5. ThisDayLive - CON Award
  6. NTM Nigeria - Sun Courage Award 2024
  7. Digivation Network - Sun Courage Award
  8. 9NewsNG - Sun Newspaper Award
  9. The Headbridge - Meet Mike Ozekhome
  10. Medium - Legal Defence of Mike Ozekhome
  11. Ovation International - Nigerians Celebrate Ozekhome at 67
  12. National Accord - Ozekhome Leads Nnamdi Kanu’s Legal Team
  13. TellNG - Articles by Mike Ozekhome
  14. Vanguard - Confab 2014
  15. Midwest Herald - Living Legend at 66
  16. The Metro Lawyers - Go to Court
  17. Mike Ozekhome SAN Articles on Muckrack
  18. Mike Ozekhome on Premium Times
  19. The Beginning of the Modern Human Rights Movement in Nigeria (Placbeam)
  20. Attacks on Justice (International Commission of Jurists PDF)
  21. The Beginning of the Modern Human Rights Movement in Nigeria (Placbeam - duplicate)
  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. ↑ "Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN". Tribune Online. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Prof Mike Agbedo Emoepo Abu Ozekhome, SAN, is our ICON for the week". Mike Ozekhome’s Chambers. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Prof Mike Agbedo Emoepo Abu Ozekhome, SAN, is our ICON for the week". Mike Ozekhome’s Chambers. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  6. 1 2 "International Biographical Centre". scamnet. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Consumer affairs: International Biographical Centre" (PDF). www.parliament.vic.gov.au. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  8. ↑ "Gunmen kidnap prominent lawyer in southern Nigeria". AFP. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  9. 1 2 Ibekwe, Nicholas (24 August 2013). "Radical lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, kidnapped - Premium Times Nigeria". Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  10. 1 2 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.
  11. ↑ "Nigerian human rights lawyer Mike Ozekhome abducted". tvcnews.tv. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  12. ↑ "Gunmen kidnap prominent lawyer in southern Nigeria". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  13. ↑ Latestnigeriannews. "Ozekhome's kidnap". Latest Nigerian News. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  14. ↑ The Vanguard, "More reactions trail Ozekhome’s kidnap"
  15. ↑ "Ozekhome Admits Paying Ransom For Release". The ICIR. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  16. ↑ The Vanguard, DSS, Army arrest Mike Ozekhome’s kidnapper.
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