The 14th Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General has joined the league of more than 429 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN in the country.
He is Uwemedimo Nwoko who had served briefly as Commissioner for Justice under Governor Godswill Akpabio and is now serving under Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Nwoko joins the rank of the late Akpan Ekong Bassey, Paul Usoro, Assam Assam, Mrs Ufot, Solomon Umoh, Uko Udom, Offiong Offiong, Professor Enefiok Udoh, among others from Akwa Ibom.
He had been screened by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, a body charged with the responsibility of screening and conferring SANship on qualified legal practitioners.
In a telephone interview with Straightnews on Friday, November 13, Nwoko confirmed the elevation and thanked God for the gesture.
Born on October 27, 1964, in Abiakana, Urua Inyang in Ika LGA, he before his appointment as Commissioner was the chairman of the board of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua.
Nwoko attended St. Augustine Secondary School, Urua Inyang, from 1977-82 before proceeding to the University of Calabar, Cross River State and Nigerian Law School, Lagos from 1987 to 1992.
The 56-year-old obtained his LL.B from the University of Calabar in 1991 and his B.L in 1992 at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
He participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Lagos. After his service year, he obtained his Master’s degree, ( LL.M degree) from Lagos State University (LASU) in 1998.
Prior to his advent into government service, the Commissioner had been in private legal practice since 1992. He has been deeply involved in building democracy through landmark election petitions and constitutional law cases.
Nwoko has a robust background in rights activism and enjoys populist recognition among the masses, particularly among the underprivileged where he had on several occasions chosen to be their voice.
Nwoko is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), former member, Body of Benchers; member, Council of Legal Education in Nigeria and member, Promotions and Disciplinary Committee (APDC) of Council of Legal Education.
In a telephone interview with Straightnews on Friday, Utibe Nwoko, a brother to Uwem said he attended the screening for the position by Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee on Thursday, November 12 and the confirmation was made on Friday, November 13.
Utibe who is a legal practitioner described his brother as a pathfinder, trailblazer who will open the door for other practising lawyers in Akwa Ibom to get the exalted the position.
He remarked “He is the first person practising in Akwa Ibom State to be elevated to the position. It is my hope that his elevation would open the door for other lawyers to reach the position.”
Meanwhile, Uwemedimo Nwoko will be conferred with the high-ranking legal status on December 14, 2020 in Abuja.
