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Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo Inyang Edem Ekwo (Ibibio), (born on March 12, 1964) is a Nigerian lawyer, judge, author, poet, essayist and judicial activist. He was appointed a Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria on January 3, 2008.

Inyang was born to Chief Benson Dick Ekwo of the Udoh Ewa Dynasty and Ekaete Benson Dick Ekwo of the Royal House of Udo-Inyang, both of Nduo Eduo in Okon-Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.

Early Life And Education He completed his primary education in Primary School, Ambo Street, Calabar in 1977. He started his secondary education at the Methodist Secondary School, Ibiaku Ishiet in Uruan, and moved over to Eket Modern High School, Eket, Akwa Ibom State where he obtained the General Certificate of Education (GCE O/L) in 1985.

He enrolled for his General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A/L) in 1985 at the School of Arts and Science, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. He abandoned the programme in 1986 when offered admission in the Law Faculty of the University of Cross River State (now University of Uyo). He obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Second-Class Honours (Lower Division) from the University of Cross River State in 1990.

He was called to the Bar in the Nigeria Law School (BL), Lagos in 1991 after obtaining His Bar Qualifying Certificate with Second-Class Honours (Lower Division). He further obtained Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) with Second-Class Honours (Lower Division) from the Pan African Theological College, Abuja in 2001, and, a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism (PGDJ) from the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja, Nigeria in 2001.

In 2008, he completed and was awarded a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. In 2010 he bagged Doctor of Philosophy of Law (PhD Law) (upon assessment of published works) from the European American University, Roseau Valley, Commonwealth of Dominica.

Life And Work He served in the Department of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Ondo, Ondo State during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from 1991-1992 where he was exposed to the artistry of criminal prosecution and indeed handled a number of cases.

In 1992, he joined the Law Firm of Messrs Dotun Akinkigbe and Company at Oil Mill Street in Lagos. Within the short period of service there, he was exposed to civil litigation.

In November 1992, he joined the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and was posted to the Litigation Department which handled Enforcement of Company Laws and Litigations concerning the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 1990. He took up appointment as part-time lecturer of Commercial Law with Abuja School of Accountancy and Professional Studies (now Dorben Polytechnic) between 1995 and 1997. He served as a Member of Faculty with the European American University, Roseau Valley, Commonwealth of Dominica, from 2010 and was made Professor of Law (Adjunct Faculty of the University) in 2011.

On January 3, 2008, he was appointed a Judge of the Federal High Court, a position he holds till date. He has served in many Divisions of the Court to wit: Katsina (April 2008 - July 2010), Lokoja (July 2010 - April 2014), Yenagoa (April 2014 – May, 2015), Port Harcourt (May 2015 - January 2016), Calabar (January 2016 – Date).

Law Conferences Attended And Study Tours Justice Ekwo has attended quite a number of international conferences in pursuance of practical professional knowledge such as: 1.	Practicing Law in the 21st Century – Meeting the Challenges, IBA Regional Conference, Accra – Ghana, 7th – 10th April, 1999. 2.	Developing the Law as an Instrument for Social and Economic Rights, IBA Regional Conference, Lagos – Nigeria, 5th – 8th April, 2004. 3.	International Bar Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 25th – 30thOctober, 2005. 4.	International Bar Conference, Chicago, USA, 17th – 22nd September 2006. 5.	Current Development In Banking Law Jurisprudence And Adjudication In A Period Of Global Economic Crises, London, UK, 24TH -28THOCTOBER, 2011. 6.	He Has Undertaken Foreign Study Tours Of The Companies House, Cardiff, UK, 13TH – 16TH July, 2004. 7.	Charities Commission, London, UK, April, 2007. 8.	Commercial Arbitration Court, London, UK, October, 2011. 9.	Immigration Court (Under The Department Of Justice) Miami, Florida, USA, July, 2015.

Schedules Handled 	Attorney-General, Law Students’ Association (LAWSA), (Ikot Osurua Campus), University of Cross River State, Uyo, (1988-90). 	President, Press Club, (Ikot Osurua Campus), University of Cross River State, 1988-89. 	Secretary/Member, Companies and Allied Matters Law Review Committee, Corporate Affairs Commission, 1995. 	Secretary/Member, Companies and Allied Matters (Fees Regulations Review) Committee, Corporate Affairs Commission, 2002. 	Secretary, Task Force on Enforcement of Compliance by companies in Nigeria, Corporate Affairs Commission, 2003 – 2007. 	Secretary/Member, Drafting Committee on the Companies and Allied Matters Act (Regulations), Corporate Affairs Commission, 2006-2007. 	Representative of the Corporate Affairs Commission in Inter-ministerial (Standing) committee on the Exemption of Foreign Companies from Incorporation in Nigeria, 2002 – 2007. 	Founding Secretary, Abuja Chapter, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, 2004-2006. 	Secretary/Member, Editorial Board, Nigeria Company Law Report, 2006-7 (NCLR). 	National President, Methodist Secondary School, Ibiaku Issiet, Old Students Association, 2010-date. 	Member, Editorial Board, Federal High Court Law Report (FHCLR), 2017-date. 	Member, Federal High Court Staff Training Committee, 2017 –date.

Researches, Publications And Literary Productions Inyang Ekwo is a researcher and renowned author in both Law and Literary fields. In the field of law, he is known to have blazed the trail in researches in rare areas such as Incorporates Trustees, Education and Drug Laws. These have resulted in the following publications: 	Incorporated Trustees Law for Churches and Religious Associations, 2003, Brighter Law Publications Limited, Ibadan, Nigeria. 	Incorporated Trustees: Law and Practice in Nigeria, 2007, LexisNexis, South Africa. 	Education Law and Administration in Nigeria, 2010, Odade Publishers, Lagos-Nigeria 	Drug Laws Enforcement and Administration in Nigeria, 2018, Princeton Associates, Lagos – Nigeria. The Published Articles And Papers By His Lordship Are: 	Appraisal of the Revisions and Editions of the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: Legality of the Exercise of Compilations Thereof, 2012. 	Current Challenges on Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court on Matters Arising from Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

	Receivership and Liquidation: Functions of the Federal High Court Registry on Processes and Proceedings.

	The Church and the Development in the 21st Century - a paper presented at the 10th anniversary of The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Kubwa Area, FCT Field presented on 16th May, 2015. 	Renaissance of Intellectualism in Pastoral Leadership; the Challenge of Relevance, a Convocation Lecture at the Convocation of The Apostolic Theological College, Lagos, on Saturday, 25th July, 2015. In the field of Literature His Lordship has made significant contributions with five (5) works of Fiction and an Anthology of Poems and has received literary awards. 1. In 2008, he published Storm in the Will which received ANA/Jacaranda Prose Prize 2009. Some Reviews of Storm in the Will i.	The 335 page book is a captivating story. Storm in the Will is a good novel, a touching story with moral lessons for the young and old. I recommend it for every home - The Vanguard. ii. Novel of the moment, whose intimidating posture has created literary earthquake… Storm In The Will is probably one of the few latest fictional novels by a Nigerian writer that will stand the test of time… Creative imagination… will be an admired compendium for Nollywood team… recommended to all institutions of higher learning as a good literature book from a laurel - The Daily Independent

iii. Storm in the Will is a novel for all classes of people. It is quite revealing, profound and touching to the extent that once you pick it up to read you may not like to put it down until the last chapter … This is why Inyang Ekwo can be said to have given the world a novel so unique and so special and for this, he must be commended for this rare offer -The Nation

iv. Storm in the Will is carefully weaved... The scenes in the novel are so vivid and are presented in a way that could be acted if a stage is set for it… The book should be recommended not only for use in school certificate examination but for advanced studies in the universities - Midweek Pioneer.

2. This was followed by another novel; Just a Mile More in 2009. He published Beyond the Yard in 2012 which received ANA Prose Prize (1st Runner up) in 2012. Some Reviews of Beyond 1.	“The book is a suspense filled and rich narrative told throughout in the first person pronoun and heavily laced with elements of humour, which also exposes Inyang Ekwo’s mastery of wit. The narrative seems written in defence of the awards he has won in prose and poetry despite being a judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria. The book showcases the author as an extraordinary inimitable user of vocabulary, a quality typical of people in the ‘learned’ profession. His power of description which cannot be left unmentioned makes the book a more compelling and interesting piece to read.” Page 45, Sunday Vanguard, July 1, 2012. 2.	Ekwo has a unique way of telling a story. He is a master of details…nothing is left untouched. In so doing, Ekwo sets the mind of the reader on a continuous journey. His descriptive power is unparalleled. Page 40, Saturday Guardian, August 25, 2012. 3. He published The Fall of Silence in 2013 which also received the ANA/Chevron Prose Prize (1st Runner up) in 2013. 4. His latest novel is Mission of the Dusk is undergoing rave review. 5. Being a poet also, His Lordship published an anthology titled Fingers of the Heart. Most of the poems in the anthology have received several awards.

Institutions Attended For Continuous Professional Development And Certificates Obtained:

1.	Certificate in Administration of Corporate Laws and Management from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos, Nigeria in 1993.

2.	Certificate in Drafting Commercial Agreements and Banking Documentation from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos, Nigeria in 1993.

3.	Certificate in Administration of Corporate Laws and Management from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos, Nigeria in 2000.

4.	Certificate in Administrative Law, International Law Institute (ILI), Kampala, Uganda in 2000.

5.	Certificate in Advanced Practice and Procedure (21st Course), Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos, Nigeria in 2001.

6.	Certificate in Advanced Practice and Procedure (24th Course), Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos, Nigeria in 2004.

7.	Certificate in Information Technology Management Concepts and Application, The American University in Cairo, Egypt, 2007.

Landmark Judgements that have been affirmed by Appellate Courts: i.	Dr. Abdullahi Baba Buba v. CPC & Ors.SUIT NO: FHC/LKJ/CS/15/2011 decided on 5th December, 2011.Judgement affirmed by Court of Appeal, Abuja in Appeal No. CA/A/84/2012 decided on 28th June, 2012.Judgement of Court of Appeal affirmed by the Supreme Court on 10th May, 2013; see Abdul v. C.P.C. (2014) 1 NWLR (Pt.1388) 299.

ii. CPC & Anor. v. INEC & Ors. SUIT NO. FHC/LKJ/CS/22/2012, decided on 24th September, 2012,Judgement affirmed by the Court of Appeal Abuja. Judgement affirmed by the Supreme Court on 13th March, 2015 per Appeal No. SC/478/2013. See James v. INEC (2015) 12 NWLR (Pt.1474) 538; (2015) All FWLR (Pt.787) 652.Another aspect of my Judgement in this case affirmed by the Supreme Court in APC v. INEC (2015) 8 NWLR (Pt.1462) 531.

iii. Hon. Gabriel Yunisa Olofu v.Damian Abdul Adejoh & OrsSUIT NO. FHC/LKJ/CS/52/2011 decided on 29th June, 2012.Judgement affirmed by the Court of Appeal, Abuja on 31st January, 2014 in Appeal No. CA/A/490/2012.

iv. FRN v. Gabriel Daudu & Anor. SUIT NO. FHC/LKJ/CS/52/2011 decided on 29th June, 2012.Judgement affirmed by the Court of Appeal, Abuja on 1st March, 2017.Judgement affirmed by the Supreme Court on 26th January, 2018.

v.	Heineken Lokpobiri v. Ogola & Ors. Suit No: FHC/YNG/CS/03/2015. Ruling delivered on 16th March, 2015. Affirmed in part by the Supreme Court in Lokpobiri v. Ogola on 2nd November, 2015; see Lokpobiri v. Ogola (2016) 3 NWLR (Pt.1499) 328.

Academic Awards 1.	Doctor of Letters, DLitt. (Honoris Causa), 2010, by the European American University, Roseau Valley, Commonwealth of Dominica for his contribution to the literary field.

2.	Doctor of Divinity, D.D (Honoris Causa), 2011, by the Agape Christian Theological Seminary, Karu, Abuja, Nigeria for his academic contributions in that field.

3.	Doctor of Philosophy (Religion) (Honoris Causa), 2013, by the Gilgal University, Ahoada, Rivers state for academic contributions in the field of religious studies.

Fellowships His Lordship is a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria. Institute of Chartered Trustees, Nigeria, and, Eternity Theological College, Uyo, Nigeria He has received several awards for humanitarian services: •	Award of excellence by association by Akwa Ibom Lawyers, Abuja, Nigeria, 2008. •	Award of recognition by The Apostolic Church, Eket Field, Eket, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, 2009. •	Award of honour by The Apostolic Church School of Ministry, Abuja, Nigeria, 2010.

•	Award of excellence by Akwa Mboho Nsit foundation, Akwa Ibom state, 15th February, 2014.

•	Award of excellence by Akwa Ibom/Cross River Community, Lokoja chapter.

References