The Delta State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, on Friday, addressed the legal community during a solemn valedictory court session held in honour of the late Prof. Amos Agbe Utuama, SAN — former Deputy Governor and Attorney General of Delta State.
The session took place at the Delta State High Court Complex in Asaba.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished members of the legal community from across Nigeria, including the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme; the Asagba of Asaba; and legal icon Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN , the Chief Judge of Delta State, Hon. Justice Theresa Diai, the Solicitor-General/ Permanent secretary, Ministry Of Justice, Omamuzo Erebe among others. They gathered to pay tribute to the remarkable legacy of the late Prof. Utuama, celebrating his exemplary life and dedicated service.
Speaking at the session, the Attorney General, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, described Prof. Utuama as a trailblazer whose deep understanding of the law, integrity, and precision set him apart as a leading figure in the legal profession.
“Ohwovoriole noted, ‘His Excellency, the late Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, was a distinguished legal luminary, a devoted civil servant, and a principled man of uncommon warmth and grace.
“I speak not merely as a colleague or admirer but as one of many whose lives were deeply impacted by his generosity, wisdom, and love. He was my uncle, teacher, boss, mentor, and benefactor.’”
Prof. Utuama was widely recognized as one of the nation’s foremost experts in land law and planning law. His outstanding contributions earned him the Fellowship of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (FNITP).
As Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, he spearheaded numerous landmark reforms that elevated the standards of justice delivery in Delta State.
He also established the Department of People’s Rights, pioneered the development of a modern computerized law library, reformed the state’s contracting processes, and launched consistent capacity-building initiatives for ministry personnel.
One of his most notable achievements was the annotation of the Laws of Delta State—the first of such series in Nigeria. He also revived the long-abandoned “Laws of Delta State” project, bringing it back to life.
Furthermore, he played a pivotal role in one of Nigeria’s most consequential constitutional cases: Attorney-General of the Federation v. Attorney-General of Abia State & Ors (2002) 6 NWLR (Pt. 764) 542—commonly known as the Seaward Boundary of Littoral States case. As a result of this landmark decision, Delta State and other littoral states today enjoy enhanced financial benefits, thanks to Prof. Utuama’s legal brilliance.
“May the Almighty God grant the entire family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss, and may the soul of the late Prof. Amos Agbe Utuama, SAN, find peaceful repose in eternal glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
