Rule of law defender — Omo-Agege mourns ex-deputy gov, Utuama

Professor Amos Agbe Utuama has been described by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as a legal luminary who distinguished himself in fighting for the rule of law to prevail in all affairs of state and levels of government.

Utuama, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who was Deputy Governor of Delta State between 2007 and 2015 when Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan was governor, passed away at 77 years old.

Earlier, the professor of law at the University of Lagos was Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Chief James Ibori’s administration in Delta State.

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, while reacting to the death of the legal luminary, said Prof. Utuama was one of the persons who headlined the emergence of a stable federation at the onset of the Fourth Republic.

“Having come into Chief Ibori’s government as an accomplished law teacher, Prof. Utuama was very instrumental in using his stature to instil a level of stability and respect for states at a time the Fourth Republic was still wobbling as a Federation where different political parties held sway in different states.

Senator Omo-Agege said: “I recall the days where Chief Ibori initiated the legal battles that preceded the commencement of the payment of the 13 per cent derivation fund as enshrined in the Constitution. Prof. Utuama’s stature and expertise drove the legal process that gave victory to the Niger Delta states,” the former Deputy President of the Senate said in his tribute to the late Deputy Governor.

“Indeed, the Niger Delta, not just Delta State, has lost a great son. His legacy will never be forgotten, and Nigeria was lucky to have had him in government at the time his calibre was desperately needed,” Omo-Agege stated.

He commiserated with the Urhobo nation, Delta State, and the Niger Delta region on the death of the former Deputy Governor.

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