Joseph Nwobike
| Joseph Nwobike | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 23, 1964 Rivers State, Nigeria |
| 🏳️ Citizenship | Nigerian |
| 🏫 Education | University of Lagos ((LL.B., LL.M.) |
| 💼 Occupation | Lawyer (SAN) |
| 📆 Years active | 1992–present |
| 👔 Employer | Osborne Law Practice |
| 🏢 Organization | Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) |
Joseph Agburuwhuo Nwobike (born 23 June 1964) is a Nigerian lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).[1] He was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2009. In 2018, following his conviction for attempting to pervert the course of justice, the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee suspended him from using the SAN title.[2][3] In 2011, he was vindicated by the supreme court in Nigeria, and his conviction nullified.[4][5][6] He has also been involved in legislative advocacy, including spearheading efforts that led to the enactment of the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria Act, No. 1, 2017.[7]
Early life and education
He was born in Rivers State, Nigeria. He studied law at the University of Lagos, where he obtained an LL.B with Second Class Upper Division, during which he also served as Secretary-General of the National Union of Rivers State Students and later of the University of Lagos Students’ Union in 1990/1991, and later earned an LL.M from the same institution. He also received a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Abuja.[8]
Career and legal proceedings
He was called to the Nigerian Bar in December 1992 and became a notary public in 1999. In 2009, he was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He is the lead partner at Osborne Law Practice and is a member of several professional bodies, including the International Bar Association, Nigerian Bar Association, International Tax Planning Association, and INSOL International.[9] In September 2023, he expressed support for constitutional reforms within the NBA, including changes to its governance structure and conference cost management, as part of his broader engagement with the legal profession. In the same news, he commented on the legality of appointing a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as a minister, stating that the appointment of Hannatu Musawa was lawful under Nigerian law.[10][11] In addition, he has raised concerns about court administration, particularly the management of seized property stored at court premises in Lagos, urging authorities to establish better systems for preservation and disposal.[12]
Controversy
In April 2018, Nwobike was convicted by Lagos State High Court for attempting to pervert the course of justice.[13] The conviction was based on findings that he had sent messages to court registrars and offered gratification to a judge.[14][15] In December 2021, the Supreme Court of Nigeria unanimously overturned the conviction, ruling that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)[16][17] lacked the authority to prosecute him for perversion of justice, and that the law under which he was charged did not clearly define the offence.[18][19][20] In June, 2023 he built and donated a bar centre to Nigerian bar association, Rivers state branch.[21]
External links
References
- ↑ sunnews (2025-08-15). "Joseph Agburuwhuo Nwobike: A profile of legal excellence and philanthropy". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ↑ "Economic and Financial Crimes Commission - EFCC - Appeal Court Upholds Joseph Nwobike's Conviction". efcc.gov.ng. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ↑ Ezeamalu, Ben (2018-04-30). "Judge sentences convicted senior lawyer to one month in prison". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ↑ "perversion-of-justice-supreme-court-nullifies-nigerian-lawyers-conviction". www.premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ↑ TVCN (2021-12-20). "Supreme Court upturns conviction of Senior Advocate for perversion of Justice -". Trending News. Archived from the original on 2025-08-04. Retrieved 2025-09-27. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Lawal, Kayode (2021-12-20). "Supreme Court voids conviction of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joseph Nwobike". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ↑ Gbenga-Ogundare, Yejide (2023-09-20). "AGF should create an economy out of the prisons system —Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
- ↑ Yusuf, Ayo (2025-08-30). "Joseph Nwobike: Chief Awolowo, Brilliant Lawyers in Port Harcourt Shaped My Love for Legal Profession". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ↑ Nigeria, Media (2018-06-07). "Biography Of Joseph Nwobike". Media Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ↑ Dania, Onozure (2023-09-20). "NYSC member's appointment as minister lawful – Nwobike, SAN". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ Nwafor (2023-08-29). "Nagging questions over corps member, Musawa's appointment as minister". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ↑ Nigeria, Guardian (2018-04-16). "Seized property rotting away at Lagos court premises". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ TVCNews (2021-12-20). "Supreme Court upturns conviction of Senior Advocate for perversion of Justice -". Trending News. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ↑ "Convicted-senior-nigerian-lawyer-loses-san-title". www.premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
- ↑ Oluwagbemi, Ayodele (2017-07-21). "EFCC releases more damning evidence to nail Nwobike". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ Anthony (2022-04-12). "Whether EFCC has power to investigate, prosecute offence of attempt to pervert course of justice". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ Akinkuotu, Eniola (2021-12-20). "EFCC loses as Supreme Court upturns conviction of senior advocate". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ Nation, The (2018-05-01). "Court convicts Nwobike for perversion of justice". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
- ↑ vanguard (2018-04-30). "Nwobike, SAN, sent to jail for perverting course of justice". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
- ↑ "Impact of Supreme Court Decision in "Joseph Nwobike (SAN) vs FRN" on the War Against Corruption". juritrustcentre.org. Retrieved 2025-08-14.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ Igbintade, Wale (2023-06-30). "Nwobike: Giving Back to the Legal Profession". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
- ↑ "Another-nigeria-senior-lawyer-charged-allegedly-bribing-embattled-justice-yunusa". www.premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ "Economic and Financial Crimes Commission - EFCC - How Nwobike Paid N750,000 Into Justice Yunusa's Account - Witness". www.efcc.gov.ng. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
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