Revised Profile Of Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN (Chairman, Council Of Legal Education)
Chief Nnaemeka Ngige, SAN (fondly called Emeka Ngige) was born on 11th day of July, 1961 to the family of late Chief Pius & Mrs. Priscilla Ngige of Urueze-Ide Village, Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State. He is the last born in a family of seven children.
Chief Ngige started his early primary education at St. Francis Primary School, Uruezeani, Alor in 1970 shortly after the end of the civil war and completed same at St. Patrick’s Primary School, Ogbete, Enugu.
In 1974 he was admitted to St. John’s Secondary School, Alor where he had his secondary school education. He graduated in 1979 with Division 1.
Shortly after his secondary school education, Chief Ngige between August 1979 and September 1980 had a stint with the Federal Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity where he worked as a clerical officer.
In September 1980 he gained admission to study law at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. He graduated with 2nd Class Lower Division in July 1984.
In August 1984 he was admitted to the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island for his Bar Qualifying Examinations. He successfully completed the programme in 1985 with 2nd Class Lower Division and was called to the Nigerian Bar on the 23rd of August 1985.
After his call to the Nigerian Bar, was posted to Ondo State for his mandatory National Youth Service programme and did his primary assignment with Nigerian Police Force, State CID, Akure where he prosecuted criminal matters on behalf of the Police.
Upon his completion of his national youth service in 1986, Chief Ngige was employed as a Pupil Counsel in the Chambers of G.N Uwechue & Co. at Bank Chambers, 27/29 Martins Street Lagos. Chief Ngige practised in the law firm for four years and rose to the position of Deputy Head of Chambers.
In September 1990 Chief Ngige set up his own law firm, Emeka Ngige & Co at the same Bank Chambers building before moving to his present location at Lewis Street in Lagos Island.
On the 10th of July 1992, Chief Ngige was appointed a Notary Public by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Mohammed Bello.
In the year 2002 Chief Ngige was elevated to the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria on account of his contributions to the development of legal profession in Nigeria. Chief Ngige was one of the private legal practitioners engaged by the Government to prosecute cases at the Failed Banks Tribunal at Enugu and Lagos. He was also among the private legal practitioners engaged by the Federal Government to represent it in various cases filed by the Abacha family to stall the recovery efforts of the Government.
Chief Ngige is a consummate Bar man and has held various offices in the Nigerian Bar Association. He was a member of National Executive of the Association between August 1991 and September 2016. Between 1995 and 1997, he served as Publicity Secretary, NBA Lagos branch and later became the Secretary of the branch between the period 1997 and 1999. He was appointed a member of Body of Benchers as a representative of the NBA in the year 2009. He remained in that Body till November 2012. Chief Ngige was a member of NBA National Disciplinary Committee between the period 2002 and 2004. Since 2005 till date Chief Ngige occupies the position of Assistant Secretary of Body of Senior of Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN). Chief Ngige is also currently the Chairman of Class of 85 Nigerian Law School Alumni. The Class is among the alumni classes supporting the Nigerian Law School in various aspects including donation of law books and other materials.
Recently, on the 22nd of May 2019 Chief Ngige was appointed a non-executive Director of AirPeace Ltd, one of Nigeria’s leading airline. A week later, on the 28th of May 2019 Chief Ngige was inaugurated as Chairman, Council of Legal Education by the Hon Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN.
Chief Ngige is happily married to Mrs Ogochukwu Ngige (Nee Anichebe), a civil servant with the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) and they are blessed with four children. Chief Ngige also holds the chieftaincy title of Ikemba N’Alor.
