Attorney, SAN, FCArb
Francis Forum Egele was a flamboyant attorney and Commissioner of Justice between 2012 and 2014, who later became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Synopsis
Francis Forum Egele was an intelligent attorney born in 1963 in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Nigeria. He navigated his way from the soccer field in 1983 to become an Attorney General and was later conferred as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Francis Forum Egele passed away in 2018 after celebrating his Silk.
Early Years
Born on March 7, 1963, in Kafanchan, then Northern Nigeria (now Kaduna State), to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Inamuna Egele, natives of Otuabula II and Opume communities in Ogbia Local Government, and Okoroba community in Nembe Local Government, all in Bayelsa State. He completed his primary education at St. Marks State School Okoroba between 1968 and 1973.
He attended Baptist High School, Moore House Street, Port Harcourt, from 1973 to 1978, where he obtained his West African Examination Certificate (W.A.E.C.). In 1981, he enrolled for the Interim Joint Matriculation Board Examination (I.J.M.B.E) program at Rivers State School of Basic Studies, Rumola, Port Harcourt. He passed his A-level subjects, which led him to the University of Lagos Akoka in 1983, where he earned his LL.B degree with Second Class (Hons.) in 1986.
He was admitted to the prestigious Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, the only law school in Nigeria at the time, in 1986 and was called to the Nigerian Bar on October 22, 1987.
Legal Career
Francis Forum Egele completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Lagos with the firm of Adeyemi A.O Ayai & Co in 1988. After NYSC, he started his legal practice with I. Adedipe & Co. in 1988 under the principal Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN). From 1988 to 1994, he practiced law with Chief Malla Sasime & Co. In 1994, he established his law firm, Egele & Egele, Daniel Chambers, in Port Harcourt. In 2009, he moved his chambers to Bayelsa State, INEC Road, Kpansia-Yenagoa. Egele & Egele, Daniel Chambers, is renowned for having one of the best-equipped law libraries in Bayelsa State.
Achievements and Contributions
Francis Forum Egele served as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Bayelsa State, from 2012 to 2014. He was credited with several innovations in the Ministry of Justice, including:
- Establishing the department called Special Government Cases to handle government cases, with the Attorney General doubling as the Head of the department.
- Upgrading the Information Communication and Technology facilities of the Ministry by purchasing new computer systems and peripherals for lawyers.
- Upgrading the Ministry’s Library.
- Exposing young lawyers from the Ministry of Justice to the Supreme Court.
After Governor Dickson Seriake’s administration relieved him of his appointment as Honorable Commissioner of Justice, he continued to render legal services through his law firm. He was a workaholic in the practice of law and rose to the peak of his profession. He was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on July 6, 2017, and was sworn in on September 18, 2017, along with twenty-nine others by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen (CFR). This made him the third attorney from Bayelsa State to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and the first Bayelsan to practice law in Yenagoa, the capital city of Bayelsa State.
He was also a Notary Public and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration, Nigeria.
Francis Forum Egele and Football
Francis Forum Egele played active and quality football for Sharks Football Club of Port Harcourt, a pioneer club in the Nigeria Division I league, from 1978 to 1983, after a stint with Leventis Bombers Football Club of Port Harcourt for three months. He became a member of All-Stars International Yenagoa, where he played soccer on weekday evenings and weekends with friends to keep fit. He also enjoyed playing table tennis as a hobby.
Personal Life
Francis Forum Egele was married to Mrs. Mildred Agele. The couple had five children together, one of whom, Asha Egele, is now the principal solicitor of Egele & Egele, Daniel Chambers.
Last Moments
He celebrated his Silk (Thanksgiving and reception) with his family and close associates on December 31, 2017, and January 1, 2018. On January 5, 2018, Francis Forum Egele collapsed at his home and was rushed to the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where he later passed away. The real cause of his death remains a mystery.
Francis Forum Egele was buried on March 10, 2018, at Elebele town, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. He was 55 years old.
