Amos Utuama, a former Deputy Governor of Delta State, has passed away at the age of 77. He died in Warri in the early hours of Saturday after a prolonged illness.
Professor Amos Agbe Utuama, SAN, was a renowned law educator who served as Deputy Governor from 2007 to 2015 under ex-Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, following his tenure as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General.
Born on June 5, 1947, in Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Utuama was the son of Mr. Okperon Utuama and Mrs. Bukeroro Utuama.
He received his early education at L.A. School in Otu-Jeremi and Commercial Modern School in Benin City. Utuama passed his G.C.E. Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations as a private candidate and graduated with an LL.B degree from the University of Lagos in 1977.
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He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978 and earned an LL.M and Ph.D. from the University of Lagos, as well as a B.L. from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
In 1998, Utuama was appointed a Professor of Law in the Department of Private and Property Law at the University of Lagos, reflecting his academic and professional versatility.
He served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Delta State from 1999 to 2007, making him one of the longest-serving individuals in that role since the state’s creation.
Beyond his professional achievements, Utuama contributed to various national committees and organizations, including the Technical Committee of the South-South Governors and National Legislators Forum, the Council of Legal Education, and the Delta State Security Council, among others.
He was also a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration in the UK.
During his time as Attorney General, he addressed critical issues such as resource control and True Federalism, and successfully litigated important cases at the Supreme Court, including the notable Seaward Boundary case that significantly impacted revenue allocation principles in Nigeria.
An accomplished author and editor of over 100 publications, Utuama received numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2005.
A devout Catholic, he was married to Nelly Utuama, who passed away in 2018. They had four children together.
In response to Utuama’s death, Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori expressed heartfelt condolences to his family, describing him as a world-class academic who greatly enriched the Nigerian legal landscape.
On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the loss of a gentleman, scholar, and accomplished politician. His commitment to unity and development was evident throughout his service to our state and country, the governor said.
