An ocean of tributes have continued to flow forth for late erstwhile Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dafe Akpedeye , a Senor Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), and one of Delta State’s most riveting legal minds.
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and his immediate predecessor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan described the death of the former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Akpedeye, as a huge loss just as many of the deceased’s colleagues who served together with him as Commissioners at the Delta State government and members of the State Executive Council(SEC) continue to shower telling tributes on him.
Recall that current Delta State Governor, Senator Okowa was a member of the State Executive Council as SSG of Delta State when Akpedeye held sway as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the administration of Dr Uduaghan who governed between 2007-2015.
Late Dafe Akpedeye, who has been described as one of the most jovial, lively, brilliant and accomplished professionals among the Cabinet team at the time was a distinguished lawyer who hailed from Uwheru in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta state.
Among other prestigious positions Akpedeye held include being 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.
Colleagues in government and at the Bar say late Akpedeye was a well talented legal mind, jovial and highly regarded. He was a UK-qualified Chartered Arbitrator and a CEDR Certified Mediator who was most lively, and engaging with any one he came in contact with.
In recognition of his contributions to development issues, the federal government of Nigeria in 2014 conferred on him the prestigious National Honour of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR). Akpedeye, in his lifetime had over 33 years of legal practice experience spanning Litigation, Corporate Law, Arbitration, and Mediation to ground breaking expertise in Oil, Gas and Energy Law.
Governor Okowa said he was deeply saddened by the death of the legal practitioner given his contributions to the development of Delta State, Nigeria and the legal profession.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Tuesday, the governor said the late Akpedeye was an erudite professional whose contributions to society remain indelible
The governor who commiserated with the people of Ughelli North Local Government, Uwheru community in particular and the Nigerian Bar Association over the passing of the eminent lawyer, noted that Akpedeye made invaluable contributions to the development of legal education and practice as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and as a lecturer at Delta State University.
The statement said, “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the passing of a gentleman and thoroughbred professional, Dafe Akpedeye SAN, who reportedly died on Monday.
“The news of his death came to me as a shock and I send my heartfelt condolences to the family, the people of Ughelli North, the Nigerian Bar Association and Delta State University on the passing of the renowned statesman and top-notch lawyer.
“He was a gentleman and brilliant lawyer of international acclaim, who distinguished himself in the service of his people and in the private and public sectors.
“In acknowledgement of Akpedeye’s enormous contributions in law practice, he was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2004 and was recognised by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR) in 2014.”
In the same vein, Iimmediate past Delta governor, Dr Uduaghan who was Akpedeye’s boss as governor of the State between 2007-2015 expressed great regret over the passage of the erudite lawyer.
Uduaghan who described late Akpedeye as one of the best brains he came across as a governor said the lawyer was instrumental to the drafting and publication of the first edition of the Annotated Laws of Delta State.
The immediate past Governor said with Akpedeye’s death, Nigeria has lost one of its best legal minds who contributed meaningfully to the development society and humanity.
Uduaghan in his statement said: “In my eight years as Governor of Delta State, I had the privilege of meeting and working with some of the finest minds, men and women, from diverse fields of endeavour.
“One of them that stood out was Dafe Jude Akpedeye, OFR, SAN, FCIArb., former Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Delta State. Dafe Jude Akpedeye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and one of the best lawyers in investment banking and corporate finance.
“Sadly, I got the news on Monday that Dafe Akpedeye, OFR, has gone to meet his creator. I am immensely saddened and pained by his death.
“In my first term as Governor of Delta State, he worked with me as Delta State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice from 2007 to 2009, during which time he helped to formulate the drafting and publication, amongst other things, the first edition of the Annotated Laws of Delta State, the first of its kind in the West African region.
“With his rich pedigree in investment banking, Mr. Akpedeye played a crucial role in my administration’s successful effort in partnering with and attracting private sector investments to Delta State.
“As Attorney General, he was dedicated, committed to his job and loved Delta State. And as a private practitioner before and after he served as Commissioner of Justice, he was brilliant, inventive and did his job with integrity.
“His sterling qualities and accomplishments are attested to by the fact that he attained the peak of legal practice in 2004 when he was conferred with the prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and was recognised by the Federal Government with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2014”
