BREAKING: Legal luminary, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, dies at 92
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Nigeria’s popular constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze, is reportedly dead, aged 92.
According to family sources, Prof. Nwabueze died on Sunday, October 29, 2023, in his home in Atani, Anambra State.
Nwabueze, Nigeria’s first academic Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was born in 1931.
He started his academic pursuit at the CMS Central School Atani, from 1938 to 1945; C.M.S Central School, Onitsha (formerly, African College), 1947 to 1950.
He later went to London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, 1956 – 1961 and School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1961 to 1962.
From 1962 to 1965, he became a Senior Lecturer at Holborn College of Law, London, and Senior Lecturer, University of Nigeria Nsukka, between 1967 – 1970.
In 1971, he became the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Zambia and Director, Law practice Institute, Zambia, 1973 to 1975
Prof. Nwabueze earned his Doctor of Laws (LL.D) at the University of London in 1978, based on his three outstanding books – Constitutionalism, Presidentialism, and Judicialism, thus entering the record books as the second (since the death of Dr. T.O. Elias), the only Nigerian and African holder of a higher doctorate degree in Law by published works.
He is also the first academic lawyer to be made a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1978 strictly on the basis of his published works.
A seasoned Academician, he was member of Senate of the Universities of Lagos, Dar-es-salaam, Nairobi, Haile Selassie in Ethiopia, Lesotho, Botswana and Swaziland between 1971 – 1978.
He was appointed the University Assessor for Academic Appointments, Universities of Ghana, Lagos, Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and Jos between 1978 – 1979.
Prof. Nwabueze is the proud author of over thirty books and treatises with an average extent of 400 pages including The Machinery of Justice in Nigeria; Constitutional Law of the Nigerian Republic; Nigerian Land Law and Constitutionalism in the Emergent States. Others are Presidentialism in Commonwealth Africa, Judicialism in Commonwealth Africa; The Presidential Constitution of Nigeria; A Constitutional History of Nigeria; Federalism in Nigeria under the Presidential Constitution; and Nigeria’s Second Experiment in constitutional Democracy in Africa in Five Volumes.
He has written over 200 articles in academic journals and more than 100 keynotes at local and international Conferences.
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He is a household name in the Legal Profession and hardly, any other author is as frequently quoted in court judgements as Ben Nwabueze. Although, well known for his teaching, research and writing; Nwabueze continued to participate in University administration.
This erudite Professor was appointed to Professorial Chairs in the following Universities; Zambia, 1970 – 75; Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria, 1974; University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1975 – 76; Anambra State University of Technology; Nnamdi Azikiwe university, Awka 1989 – 1983 (visiting)
Prof. Ben Nwabueze is also a strong advocate for the Igbo cause, becoming a one-time Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
He, alongside other prominent Igbo sons like Akanu Ibiam, M.I. Okpara, K.O. Mbadiwe, Chief Ugochukwu, P.N. Okigbo and Udoji, co-founded Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 1976.
He served as Secretary – General, between 1978 to 2004, in which capacity he transformed the body into a formidable, highly regarded non-partisan Pan Igbo pressure group.
He was a recipient of several Chieftaincy titles, and The Nigerian Order of Merit (NNOM).
He was appointed by Hallmarks of Labour Foundation to join the league of other worthy Patriots of Hallmarks of Labour Role Model recipients (HLR). Read more.
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