Everything to know about the late Prof Amos Utuama

Former Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof Amos Agbe Utuama died on Saturday after a protracted illness. He was said to have been sick following the death of his wife, Nelly Utuama in 2021.

NaijaOnPoint.com.ng (NOP) reports Prof Utuama hailed from Otu-Jeremi in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State. He was born on June 5, 1947 to the family of Mr. Okperon Utuama and Mrs. Bukeroro Utuama.

Utuama attended L.A. School, Otu-Jeremi; Commercial Modem School, Benin City; passed his G.C.E Ordinary/Advanced Level 1972/1973 as a private candidate; and the University of Lagos where he graduated with an LL.B Degree in 1977.

Prof. Utuama was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978. He holds the academic and professional qualifications of LL.B (Hons), LL.M. and Ph.d. from the University of Lagos and B.L. from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

As a result of his professional and academic versatility, he was appointed a Professor of Law in the Department of Private and Property Law, at his alma mater, the University of Lagos in 1998.

Aside from his professional excellence and reliability, Prof. Utuama was at different times appointed a consultant to the African Development Bank, G.M. Ibru & Co. and several Oil companies and Organisations.

Professor Utuama held the position of Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice of Delta State from 1999-2007 thus becoming one of the longest serving Attorneys-General/Commissioner for Justice since the creation of Delta State.

Professor Utuama’s contributions to national service span a host of offices, bodies, councils and committees. These include: Member of the Technical Committee of the South-South Governors and National Legislators Forum; member, Council of Legal Education (1993-2003); and Chairman, Tenders Board of Council of Legal Education (1993-2003).

Others are: member, Body of Benchers (1993-2003), Member Delta State Boundary Committee and Member Delta State Security Council and Member Delta State Executive Council (1999-2003 and 2003-2007).

He was also a member of the prestigious Chartered Institute of Arbitration in the UK and a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (FNITP).

During his tenure as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Delta State, Utuama articulated issues relating to resource control and True Federalism. He successfully prosecuted and defended several cases at the Supreme Court affecting the various tiers of government in the Federation.

Most notable of these was the Seaward Boundary case between the Att-Gen of the Federation and Att-Gen of Abia State & 35 Others. The success of the counterclaim of Delta State resulted in largely defining and reshaping the principles of revenue allocation of the Federation Account in line with the 1999 Constitution.

Prof. Utuama is an author and editor of over 100 publications, and has earned many recognitions, honours and commendations including several local and international awards.

On September 26, 2005, he was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Prof. Utuama is a devout Christian of the Catholic faith.

His hearthrob, Nelly Utuama died in March 2018. They are blessed with four children.

An eminent lawyer, scholar and administrator, Prof. Utuama was elected the Deputy Governor alongside his equally outstanding colleague; Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan as Governor in the April 2007 Governorship Election in Delta State.