An epic legal battle is about to begin in Nigeria as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has constituted the legal team that will seek to upturn the outcome of the Saturday, February 23 poll.
The Independent Electoral Commission had, on Wednesday, declared the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, winner of the election, a decision that the PDP says is null and void as it believes the process was flawed.
According to Atiku, the legal team is headed by Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and head of Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) and co. As a result, attention will focus on him, prompting phenomenal.com to peep into his profile. For one, apart from having garnered a rich experience in legal practice and administration, he Livy Uzoukwu studied at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, making him a ‘Great Ife’ – as graduates of the school are fond of saluting themselves.
Here is Uzoukwu’s profile as contained on his law firm’s website:
Dr Livy Uzoukwu, OON, SAN is the head of our law firm.
He attended the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and graduated with LL.B Honours Degree in 1981. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1982. He obtained his LLM Degree from the Abia State University in 1991 and LLD from the University of South Africa in 2010.
In 1997, he attended leadership training at the International Leadership Academy, United Nations University, Amman, Jordan.
He commenced legal practice after national youth service in July 1983. In February 1994, he was appointed the Honourable Attorney–General and Commissioner for Justice, Imo State. Till date, he remained the youngest person ever appointed to that office in Imo State.
At the end of his duty tour as Attorney–General in October 1996, he went back to private legal practice. In September 1999, he was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Between 1994 and 1996, he was a member of the Imo State Security Council, Imo State Judicial Service Committee and Imo State Boundary Commission. He was also a member of the Imo State Magistrate/High Court Rules Committee. He was the Chairman, Imo State Government Panel on Ikeduru Local Government Council Crisis from July –September 2005.
At the Federal level, he was a member of the Body of Benchers and Council of Legal Education 1994-1996.
He has prodigious experience in the practice of law at all levels of the judicial system in Nigeria up to the apex court, the Supreme Court.
He has acted as legal adviser to several companies, corporations and institutions.
Dr Uzoukwu, OON, SAN is an accomplished author of several legal literature. He is equally a poet who has won several prizes.
He has acted as counsel to State Governments and their agencies; and some Federal agencies and parastatals. He also consults on Nigerian Law for some United Kingdom solicitors.
He has delivered several learned papers at seminars, conferences, symposia and workshops.
The Executive Governor of Imo State appointed him a member of the Imo Sate Council of Elders in 2007 in recognition of his exemplary services to the State.
On 22 December 2008, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, conferred him with the National Honour of Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) “in recognition of your outstanding virtues and in appreciation of services to our country, Nigeria”.
