By Abiola Olawale
A former Deputy Governor of Delta State and eminent Legal Scholar, Professor Amos Agbe Utuama SAN, has passed away at the age of 77 years old.
It was gathered that Utuama passed away in Nigeria on Saturday after suffering from a brief illness.
The former deputy governor was said to have been ill since after the passage of his wife, Dr. Nelly Utuama.
In a heartfelt tribute, former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, described the late Utuama as a humble, loyal aide who executed his duties with utmost professionalism during his lifetime.
Ibori also said the demise of Utuama is a great loss to Delta State and Nigeria at large.
Ibori was quoted as saying: “Professor Amos Agbe Utuama, my humble, loyal, and esteemed Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. You were my steadfast legal foundation, executing your duties with unwavering commitment. If it were within my power to halt death, I would have done so for you. Farewell, dear Professor. May your pure soul rest in eternal peace”.
The New Diplomat reports that Utama, born on June 5, 1947, was a deputy to former Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan.
He served for eight years with Uduaghan on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Prior to that role, he was the commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Delta State. That was under the administration of former Governor James Ibori.
Utuama was a well-respected Senior law lecturer at the University of Lagos. He was greatly loved by many both in the academia and in the political arena across all party lines. He was a devout Christian of the Catholic faith.
He hailed from Otughievwen (Otu-Jeremi) town in Ughievwen Kingdom of Ughelli South local government area of Delta State.
