Emmanuel Aguma, commissioner for justice and attorney-general of Rivers State, is dead. He was 57 years old.
Emma Okah, the state commissioner for information and communications, announced this in a statement on Friday, August 10, 2018.
He said the senior advocate of Nigeria, SAN, passed on Friday while receiving treatment in a London hospital. A source close to the family had informed The Trent that Aguma was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and he passed away at 10am.
Okah described the death of the Port Harcourt-born legal luminary, as a “monumental” loss to both the state and the family.
“It is with very deep pain but gratitude to the Almighty God that the Rivers state government wishes to announce the demise of the state attorney general and commissioner for justice, Hon Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, today Friday 10th August, 2018 in a London hospital,” Mr. Okah said in the statement.
“Until his death, Emmanuel Chiwenwo Aguma, SAN served the state with amazing sense of responsibility, commitment, passion, competence and courage. At all times, even in his sick bed, his exemplary zeal to serve Rivers state never waned.
“Consequently, the Governor of Rivers state, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON, GSSRS has approved that flags fly at half-mast for two days beginning from tomorrow Saturday 11th August, 2018 as a mark of honour to mourn the departed legend.
“Needless to say that Rivers State and indeed the nation will miss his versatility and invaluable contributions to the development of our state and Nigeria.
“This loss is monumental but we urge all people of goodwill to remember his wife, children, mother and the entire Late Chief Emmanuel W. Aguma family of Port Harcourt as well as the state in prayers.”
The respected lawyer served as the secretary of the Port Harcourt branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, from 2000 to 2002. He was elected the chairman of the same branch of the NBA in 2006 and served until 2018.
Chief Aguma joined the Nyesom Wike-led government in 2015, after serving as the head of the legal team of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Campaign Organisation.
He was conferred with the rank of senior advocate of Nigeria in September 2015.
A scion of a respected first republic politician, Chief Emmanuel W. Aguma, the late commissioner of justice is survived by his wife, Inime Aguma with whom he has been married for 25 years, and his three children, Onyi, Chima, and Eze.
Inime Aguma, a lawyer, currently serves as the Nigerian country head of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria.
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