Amos Utuama, ex-Delta deputy governor, dies at 77

Amos Utuama, a professor and a former deputy governor of Delta, is dead.

Utuama reportedly died on Saturday morning in Warri at the age of 77, after a protracted illness.

Utuama served as Delta’s attorney general and commissioner for justice from 1999 to 2007 and later became deputy governor to Emmanuel Uduaghan from 2007 to 2015.

Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta state, said he “received the devastating news of Utuama’s death with great shock.”

In a statement signed by Festus Ahon, his chief press secretary, the governor commiserated with the deceased’s family, the people of Ughelli south LGA, and the Otu-Jeremi community of the state.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the passing of a gentleman, a scholar, and an astute politician, Professor Amos Agbe Utuama, SAN, who passed on in Warri on Saturday,” Ahon quoted the governor to have said.

“I received the devastating news of his death with great shock. He was a gentleman politician and scholar who distinguished himself in the service of his people, first as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state and later as Deputy Governor of the state.

“Throughout his service to the state and country, Prof. Utuama demonstrated commitment to the unity and development of the state.”

“The Governor prayed God to accept the deceased’s soul and grant fortitude to the family and friends he left to bear the loss.”