The Late Chief Fredrick Rotimi Alade Williams, the nation’s foremost legal icon, once described Prof Benjamin Obi Nwabueze, Nigerian lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who just joined his ancestors, as an oracle in the profession. That attestation, which may sound like a courtesy from one guru to another is, indeed, a testimony to the high regards the ebullient constitutional lawyer, erudite scholar, author, and legal consultant was held by his peers. He was also a Minister of Education and leader among his ethno-cultural group- the Igbo.
Nwabueze was widely recognized as one of the most distinguished and influential lawyers and scholars in Africa. The ‘oracle’ was a respected legal practitioner who handled several landmark cases before the courts. At the time he was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1978, he was the first academic to attain that honor.
Still, he was a well sought-after personality in the lecture circuit, local and international, a prolific writer and scholar who authored over 60 books and also wrote numerous articles on various aspects of law, politics, history, and culture.
The leading constitutional lawyer, champion of human rights and democracy was a member of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the 1979 Constitution of Nigeria that returned the country to a democratic path after years of military rule.
Ex-Education Minister, Ben Nwabueze, Passes On
Beyond the realms of law, Nwabueze applied his intellectual fecundity in other areas, participating and enriching public discourse that relate to political, social affairs of Nigeria and Africa.
It was in his capacity as a founding member of the Igbo socio-cultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and its Secretary-General that he shone like a thousand stars that illuminated and lifted the psyche of a people that had emerged from a debilitating 30-month civil war.
Nwabueze was not an ethnic jingoist if he were to be assessed by his commitment to the Igbo cause. He merely used that as a platform to get himself involved in several national conferences, dialogues, and initiatives aimed at resolving the political crises and conflicts that plagued and are still plaguing Nigeria. He was a staunch advocate of restructuring, federalism, and constitutional reform as means of achieving national unity and development.
Reacting to news of his demise, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement described the death of the foremost constitutional lawyer as a profound loss and noted that Professor Nwabueze’s knowledge of law was outstanding.
“Prof. B.O. Nwabueze’s contribution to the precedents and principles of the nation’s constitution is notable. His involvement in the drafting of the 1979 constitution is a legacy that stands him out as well as his outstanding contributions to the legal profession at large,” the President said.
In his own comment, a former Vice President and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said: “Needless to say that Professor Nwabueze and I shared a bond that was refreshing. He was a fine scholar who carried himself with excellence and had an avuncular mien.
Atiku further said that, “through the enterprise of his intellectual acumen, Professor Nwabueze added appreciable benefits to the growth of constitutionalism not just in Nigeria, but globally.
Speaking about Professor Nwabueze on behalf of Ohanaeze, the President General of the organization, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said that the eminent legal authority, found profound expression in re-engineering the Igbo into one socio-cultural body.
The Ohanaeze leader pointed out that Nwabueze was “endowed with a magnetic mien, upright transparent disposition, disarming scholarship and an amazing public relation, sterling qualities that helped to galvanise eminent Igbo to lend their support in nurturing Ohanaeze to attain an enviable global status”.
Ben Nwabueze was born on December 22, 1931, in Atani, in present day Anambra State. He attended St. Patrick’s College, Asaba, and later proceeded to the University of London, where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1958. He also earned a Master of Laws degree in 1960 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1964 from the same university. Ben Nwabueze was called to the English Bar in 1959 and became a member of the Inner Temple.
He began his career as a lecturer in law at the University of Lagos in 1962. He later moved to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1963, where he rose to become a professor of law and the Dean of the Faculty of Law.
The Professor was awarded the National Order of Merit (NNOM) in 1997 and the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) in 2001 for his contributions to national development.
Nwabueze was married to Beatrice Nwabueze until her death in 2019. They had six children. May his soul rest in peace.
