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Foremost constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze is dead.
Eni Nwabueze, spokesperson for the family in a statement on Monday, confirmed that Nwabueze passed on Sunday.
The family announced Nwabueze’s demise in a statement released to the public on Monday.
“With great sadness, we announce the passing on to celestial glory of our patriarch, Professor B. O. Nwabueze SAN, NNOM, CON, pioneer Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Oduah Afo-na-isagba of Atani, Anambra State, on Sunday, October 29, 2023,” the statement read in part.
The legal luminary, Nwabueze, was born in 1931 and began his academic pursuit at the CMS Central School Atani between 1938 and 1945. He attended C.M.S. Central School, Onitsha (formerly, African College), 1947 – 1950.
Nwabueze later went to London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London between 1956 and 1961 and School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1961 – 1962.
From 1962 to1965, he was Senior Lecturer at Holborn College of Law, London, and Senior Lecturer, University of Nigeria Nsukka, between 1967 and 1970.
In 1971, he was Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Zambia and Director, Law practice Institute, Zambia, 1973 – 1975
Nwabueze became the first academic lawyer to be made a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1978 strictly on the basis of his published works.
He was a member of the Senate of the Universities of Lagos, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Haile Selassie in Ethiopia, Lesotho, Botswana and Swaziland between 1971 and 1978.
He was appointed the University Assessor for Academic Appointments, Universities of Ghana, Lagos, Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), and Jos between 1978 and 1979.
He was a prolific writer and proud author of over 30 books and treatises with an average extent of 400 pages.
He also has over 200 articles in academic journals and given more than 100 keynotes at local and international conferences.
He was appointed to Professorial Chairs in the following Universities; Zambia, 1970 – 75; Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria, 1974; University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1975 – 76; Anambra State University of Technology; Nnamdi Azikiwe university, Awka 1989 – 1983 (visiting).
The late Professor Nwabueze is said to have drafted the constitution that took away powers from the regions,whereby terminating the regional governments for the central military government headed by General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi who was the Head of State.
