For his prodigious intellect, honesty, forthrightness, reliability and depth of knowledge in cross-disciplinary issues which make him an oracle in different areas of life; for his huge contributions to the growth of the nation’s body of laws through academic research, publications in respected journals, and institution of significant constitutional lawsuits which he argued at different levels of the court during his tenure as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Abia State between 1999 and 2006 to positively recalibrate Nigeria; for his excellent mentorship style that has produced many SANs, judges of superior courts of records, university dons, top public officers; for acquitting himself creditably well as a law teacher, bureaucrat and mentor for more than four decades and for his uncommon courage to speak truth to power no matter whose ox is gored, Prof Awa Uma Kalu, SAN, is our BAR & BENCH WATCH ICON for the week
Born on March 9, 1953 at Umuahia, Abia State, he had his early education at Umuahia and at the famous Methodist College, Uzuakoli where he passed his GCE A Levels in flying colours in 1973. He studied Law at the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Ife-Ife, where he distinguished himself as numero uno of his set, winning several coveted awards. Some of such awards were Olu Ayoola prize as Best Over-all LL.B. Part One Student; Irvine & Bonner Scholarship as Best Over-all LL.B. Part Two Student and Justice Madarikan Prize as the Best Over-all Final Year Law Student. He graduated in 1977 and earned the LL.B (Hons) Upper Second Class Degree.
Awa Kalu fondly and variously called ‘Papus and ‘Prof.’ by his friends and peers maintained the streak of excellence at the Nigerian Law School, where he passed out in flying colours and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978.
His reputation as a man of prodigious intellect had gone before him. He led his class in Ife from the First Year to the Final Year, winning practically all the notable prizes.
Recalling how he became a lawyer, Kalu, SAN said: “Well, my late father wanted me to be interested in Sciences and as a matter of fact, he wanted me to be a medical doctor. And I believe that when he started ailing, he now started to change his mind, saying, studying medicine may take a long time, that I should now study Pharmacy. So, it was a modification from Medicine to Pharmacy. Unfortunately, he was not alive to see me become either. So, I have always said that unfortunately, he died before I got to the University.
“And it was one of those adventures of youth that led to my studying Law. I was a very shy boy. There was a lady that I admired. I couldn’t approach her to talk. No Instagram at the time. No Facebook. No WhatsApp. No mobile phone. At the time, if you have such message for any lady, you have to go and do it by yourself. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t have the courage to do that. So, I wrote a poem. The girl was a class ahead of me in Higher School (AL). She was in the Humanities. I was in the Sciences. And she sent words that she wanted to see me. Then, my heart was fluttering that: oh, good news was coming. Lo and behold, it was nothing connected to the love that I expressed in the poem. She simply asked me: Who wrote this poem? I said I did. Second question: Who wrote this poem? I said I did. Third question: Who wrote this poem? I said I did. And she was dramatic in the conclusion she drew. She told me pointedly that I had no business in the Sciences and I was crestfallen that my entire education up to that point had been condemned instead of encouragement from the prospect of a relationship. She denounced the courses I had chosen to study at A/L. At any rate, at that time, there was no JAMB. The universities at that time conducted their entrance examinations individually. And what then happened was that when the application forms were out for the University of Ife and University of Nigeria, she filled the two forms for me and entered Law for herself and for me. And I went for both entrance examinations. And as God would have it, I passed both. She went to Nsukka. And I went to Ife.
In legal practice, his forensic abilities are in a distinct class. His erudition and abilities even in his early years in academia already singled him out among his peers. What was most important for me was his personal integrity, his honesty and forthrightness
“And the reason I went to Ife was very simple. My mother spoke very fluent Yoruba in her lifetime. She and my late father had lived in Ibadan. So, that is where she learnt her Yoruba. And she said , well, you have grown up in the East, go and see another part of the country. So, at the age of 20, that was when I left for the then University of Ife which is now Obafemi Awolowo University. And I’m glad I did. Because it opens my eyes to so many things that people are now promoting. At Ife, nobody was asking you whether you are Igbo, or Yoruba or Middle Belt or whatever. But at that time, you were integrated into the university, make your friends across the board. Some of my best friends are the people I met in Yoruba land. Yes. And that is a lesson!,” he added.
After completing his Law programme, Awa Kalu participated in the NYSC programme in Sokoto State as Pupil State Counsel and thereafter enrolled at the Law Faculty of the University of Lagos for the Masters of Law Degree programme. At various times, he was a Law Lecturer at UNILAG and Imo (now Abia) State University teaching the Law of Evidence, the Law of Tort, Criminal Law, among others. As a university don, Awa Kalu, SAN was considered a breed in a unique class. Many of his former students are notable Judicial Officers of the Court of Appeal and High Courts. In the turf of politics, are array of outstanding political figures such as the former senate president/Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. Others are Dr. Emeka Wogu, Chuka Odom and Emeka Nwajiuba that were former Ministers of the Government of Nigeria.
According to the immediate past Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, during Awa Kalu’s 70th birthday in March 2023, Kalu is a man of prodigious intellect.
His words: “I first met the much younger Awa Kalu in 1981, 42 years ago when we were both lecturers at the University of Lagos, Faculty of Law. Our offices were next to each other. We were in the same department—Department of Public Law. Our birthdays were a day apart. I, on the 8h of March and he, on the 9th of March. We became great friends and intellectual companions as well. His reputation as a man of prodigious intellect had gone before him. He led his class in Ife from the First Year to the Final Year, winning practically all the notable prizes.
When the opening came for the second Special Assistant and His Excellency asked for my opinion, I told him I knew the best man for the job. Of course, the best man for the job was Awa. The rest is history!
“In legal practice, his forensic abilities are in a distinct class. His erudition and abilities even in his early years in academia already singled him out among his peers. What was most important for me was his personal integrity, his honesty and forthrightness . Being a smart Ibo lawyer, it is far more common than finding a reliable and trustworthy individual whose word is his bond. And Awa has proved through the years that he is not only reliable and trustworthy, his word is always his bond.
“Awa left the university for greener pasture in legal practice and I remained in the University and was then appointed as Special Assistant to the then Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, His Excellency, Judge Bola Ajibola of blessed memory. When the opening came for the second Special Assistant and His Excellency asked for my opinion, I told him I knew the best man for the job. Of course, the best man for the job was Awa. The rest is history! Awa and I while serving in the Ministry of Justice co-edited at least five books. Again, he and I served as Attorneys-General and Commissioner for Justice in the new dispensation from 1999. He as Attorney-General in Abia, and I as Attorney-General in Lagos State. He went on to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and established a lucrative legal practice here in Abuja. Although he fails to disclose to us how lucrative that legal practice is,” he added.
As an active legal practitioner, he is considered thorough and painstaking. His opponents in courtroom combat holds him in awe as his penetrating mindset hardly misses to take advantage of a gap. He is friendly to his colleagues, both juniors, peers and seniors and he is very courteous to the Bench. He has quietly but steadily influenced generation of lawyers to aspire to attain distinction in life. Part of the great endeavor attributable to Awa Kalu, SAN is the uncommon privilege of witnessing first hand, some of his former students and Associates in chambers attain the rank of professors of law as well as join him as distinguished members of the inner Bar. Some of these persons are Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Prof. Chris Anyanwu, JUK Igwe, SAN, Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN, Chike Onyemenem, SAN, Gordy Uche, SAN, Umeh Kalu, SAN, Ken Ahia, SAN, Dr. Chika Onwuekwe, KC, Prof. Sam Erugo, SAN, Prof. Gozie Ogbodo, Prof. Nnamdi Obiaraeri, Dr. Chike Okosa, the late Dr. KUK Ekwueme, Dr Sonny Ajala, SAN, among others.
Awa Kalu, SAN who holds the traditional title of ONOCHIE, has been called upon to serve his father land in one capacity or the other. In 1989, he was appointed Special Assistant to the then Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and he had the unique opportunity of serving two Attorneys General in a stretch, namely; Hon. Prince Bola Ajibola SAN, KBE (who later served as a Judge at the International Court of Justices at the Hague) and Hon. Sir Clement Akpamgbo SAN, both of cherished memories. His testimonial in public service is both outstanding and perhaps a source of inspiration to budding lawyers and jurists.
Awa Kalu, SAN has been a member of the inner Bar for more than two decades. He has served in the various bodies of the legal profession, such as the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) and he is presently a member of the Body of Benchers
At different times, he had also served in various capacities including: Secretary, National Committee on Corruption and Economic Crimes; Secretary National Committee on Malpractices in Banks and other Financial Institutions; Member, National Committee on Town Planning Law in Nigeria; Member, Editorial Committee, All Nigeria Law Reports, member of the Nigerian Delegation on the Democratization Process in Ethiopia, 1992, member of the Steering Committee of the 2nd All-Africa Law Ministers Conference, Cairo Egypt, 1992, member, Nigerian Delegation to the 46th and 47th Session of the UN General Assembly 1991 and 1992 and Delegate, Human Rights Workshop, Banjul, the Gambia, 1989, among several others.
At the dawn of democratic governance in 1999, Awa Kalu was appointed the Attorney-General and-Commissioner for Justice, Government of Abia State and he served in that capacity from 1999 till 2006. His tenure as AG of Abia State witnessed enhanced efficiency in the justice sector in particular and the policy direction of governance generally.
Awa Kalu, SAN has been a member of the inner Bar for more than two decades. He has served in the various bodies of the legal profession, such as the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) and he is presently a member of the Body of Benchers. He is a proud Fellow of the prestigious Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, (NIALS).
Awa Kalu, SAN is a consummate family man. He is married to Egoro. Their much admired marital union is blessed with four children: Erinma and Nnamdi are lawyers, whilst Chimmy, the eldest child is a software Engineer and Somkele, the youngest, is also a software Engineer. The marriage is also blessed with grandchildren.
