By Gbenga Abulude (Politics & General Desk)
A former Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dafe Akpedeye (SAN), is dead.
The Effurun branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) which announced the sad news of his his death via a statement on Monday said it mourns the demise of the eminent legal practitioner and one of Nigeria’s most outstanding legal experts in subject areas such as Oil, gas and energy law.
In the statement signed by the Chairman of the Warri branch of the NBA, Mr Jonathan Ekperusi, Esq., the Association described the late former Delta Attorney- General and commissioner for Jutsice as a distinguished legal practitioner who has left an indelible mark on the profession.
The statement reads: “It is with very heavy hearts we announce the death of Dafe Jude Akpedeye, OFR, SAN, FCIArb., former Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Delta State.
“He was a pioneer member and a prominent Leader of NBA Effurun Branch. He was a Harvard and Unilag alumnus. He served the NBA in many capacities both at the National and Branch levels. We will greatly miss him. May his noble soul rest in peace.”
Among other prestigious positions held, Akpedeye served as the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Delta State, Nigeria between 2007 and 2009. He was an Accredited Tutor of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators 2000 -2020 and a Senior Law Lecturer at Delta State University, Nigeria from 1997 to 2020.
Until his death, Dafe Akpedeye (SAN, OFR, FCIArb) was the Managing Partner of Compos Mentis Chambers, a frontline Nigerian law firm. In his career, Akpedeye garnered over three decades experience in subject areas such as Litigation, Corporate Law, Arbitration, Mediation, Oil, Gas and Energy Law.
Akpedeye, a highly talented legal mind, jovial and highly regarded, was a UK-qualified Chartered Arbitrator and a CEDR Certified Mediator. In 2014, and in recognition of his contributions to development issues, the federal government of Nigeria conferred on him the prestigious National Honour of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR).
In his time as Delta state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Akpedeye is reputed to have contributed immensely to the State government’s development’s agenda and programmes.
As an AG and Commissioner for Justice, he was responsible for the conceptualization and production of the first edition of the Annotated Laws of Delta State. This was a ground-breaking accomplishment as Delta State made history consequently as the first sub-national in the West African sub-region to have its annotated Laws drafted and published as reported.
Akpedeye obtained his Masters of Law degree from Harvard University, USA and founded Compos Mentis Chambers in 1985 upon his return to Nigeria. The Law firm with offices across Nigeria including Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Warri soon made astonishing and spectacular feats in legal practice and other subject areas of specialty.
The former Delta state Attorney -General was until his death a Council member of the UK Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria Branch); and an active member of the International Bar Association; Commonwealth Bar Association; Association of Senior Advocates of Nigeria; Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); NBA National Executive Committee; Nigerian Council of Legal Education and the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities.
Since the announcement of his demise, the legal community and his colleagues who served in the Delta state government along with him have been thrown into mourning. Many former colleagues of the deceased at the Delta state government described Akpedeye as one of the very finest legal minds, a great friend, family man, and a friend of all who will be greatly missed by all who came in contact with him. They prayed God to grant him external rest.
While commiserating with the family of the deceased, many friends and early callers where deeply shocked, wondering why this would happen to such a brilliant mind, an avid friend of all and a man of immense honour and reputation.
An avid golfer, table and lawn tennis player who enjoyed swimming, Dafe Akpedeye was born into the famous Akpedeye family of Uwheru in Urhoboland, Delta state. His late father was a legal icon as well who ensured that his kindred were well trained and educated.
