Against the backdrop of his phenomenal achievements and commitment to the protection of human rights in Nigeria, the leading constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome , was last week honoured with the chieftaincy title ‘Ada Idaha Ke Efik Eburukutu Kingdom’, meaning pillar of strength of Efik Kingdom, by the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V. Yinka Olatunbosun pays a tribute to the flag-bearing lawyer.
His university externship was with the fiery Peoples Lawyer, late Kanmi Isola-Osobu; while his NYSC was with the Federal Ministry of Justice, Yola, and later, Lagos, wherefrom he was seconded to the then National Provident Fund, Lagos . As a lawyer who certainly knows what he is doing in his chosen field, it is now becoming a delight to see many litigants choose Ozekhome as their lawyer whenever they need one. To them, he is always reliable and does not disappoint.
In 1986, he founded the law firm- Mike Ozekhome’s Chambers, with thriving offices in Lagos, Abuja, Benin City and his hometown, Agenebode. His law firms handle many cases of human rights pro bono. Ozekhome uses the law as an instrument of social, political and economic engineering; handling many landmark cases that help redefine Nigerian laws and jurisprudence in all the appellate courts of Nigeria.
Ozekhome later founded Mike Ozekhome Foundation , a wholly philanthropic and charitable organization, committed to helping the youth, widows, the poor, vulnerable and down-trodden. A consummate author who has written many law books and numerous national discourse books, he has attracted to himself numerous traditional and honorary chieftaincy titles such as Akpakpa Vighi Vighi of Edo Land .