Uche Uche, foremost Nigerian lawyer, dies at 87

Uche Uko Uche, a foremost Nigerian lawyer, is dead.

He died on August 2. He was aged 87.

Announcing his passing in a statement on Wednesday, Ijeoma Oyeator, his daughter, said funeral arrangements will be formally announced by the family in due course.

Born on November 7, 1934, Uche hailed from Ohafia in Abia state.

Uche had his early education at Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu from 1948 and 1952, before gaining admission to Teachers’ Training College, Uyo, which he attended from 1954 to 1955.

He proceeded to the University of Ghana from 1958 to 1961, and was admitted to the University of Oxford, England where he got his master of laws and PhD degrees between 1962 and 1965.

He began private legal practice at Messrs A. K. Uche Chambers, Aba between 1965 and 1966, and later returned to England to become a lecturer in African law at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.

Uche was appointed professor of public law at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and went on to become a consultant at Waruhiu and Waruhiu between 1972 and 1977.

He was also a founding and managing partner, U.U. Uche and Associates, Lagos, and president of Otu Oka Iwu (Association of Igbo Lawyers in Lagos) from 1997 to 2006.

He was a senior legal consultant, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); former chairman, board of directors, Centre for African Family Studies, Nairobi, Kenya; member, board of directors, Development Law and Policy Programme, Centre for Population and Family Health, Columbia University, New York; chairman, board of directors, African Continental Bank, Lagos; and member, British Institute of International and Comparative Law).

He was the traditional title holder of Ugwumba of Isiama, Ohafia.

He is survived by his wife, Gladys Adaibe Uche and five children.