Kesiye St. Sagbe (1926-2007) - Timeless Persons

Teacher, Administrator, Jurist, Monarch

Kesiye St. Sagbe represented the finest principles and traditions of the bar and bench. Late Justice K St. Sagbe, as he was fondly called, was best known for drafting the Laws and Edicts of old Rivers State from 1972 to 1983.

Who Was HRM Hon. Justice Kesiye St. Sagbe, Okpo XX?

Kesiye St. Sagbe was born in the sprawling coastal community of Okpoama in 1926. He was an embodiment of humility, humane disposition, legal acumen, sports enthusiasm, and devout Christianity. He became a King in 1978. In 1983, he was appointed Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General of old Rivers State and subsequently a Judge of the Rivers State High Court in 1985. His contributions to the Judicial arm of Nigeria were significant; he was an upright, erudite, and hard-working judge. He lived a fulfilled life and was at peace with himself. HRM Hon. Justice Kesiye St. Sagbe, Okpo XX died in 2007 at the age of 81.

Birth Date and Place

K St. Sagbe was born on October 24, 1926, in Okpoama community, Brass District, in the then Eastern Nigeria.

His Parents

His parents were the famous late Chief Jacob Sagbe-Obasi and Madam Martha Amafate Agada Sagbe (also late), both from Okpoama community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. K St. Sagbe’s father was from the Sagbe Obasi Royal House of Omo-Obasi and Isele group of chieftaincy war canoe houses of Okpoama kingdom. Chief Jacob Sagbe-Obasi was one of the first Ijaw personalities to embrace the Christian faith early. He worked vigorously towards the establishment of St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Okpoama and sponsored his kinsman, Rev. Mathew H.D Abayi (now late), to become a priest. Rev. Mathew H.D Abayi subsequently became a benefactor for young K St. Sagbe after his father’s sudden death.

Education and Career Life

He attended St. Barnabas School, Twon-Brass, for his primary education and obtained his Standard Six certificate. Unfortunately, K St. Sagbe’s father died during this period, which hampered his post-primary education ambitions, so he never attended any formal secondary school.

Life at Awka

Life took K St. Sagbe to Awka town, Eastern Nigeria, to live with his uncle, Rev. Mathew H.D Abayi, a priest with the Anglican Church. At Awka town, he resolved to become a pupil teacher in schools in Eastern Nigeria as his uncle was posted as a priest in various villages like Umuahia, Aba, and others. He was a good teacher, irrespective of his slender outlook, and was nicknamed “Obele Teacher” meaning small teacher.

At UAC

As time passed, he quit the teaching profession and secured a job with the United African Company (UAC) as a clerk. He worked in Aba, Eastern Nigeria, and Cameroon, which was also a territory of Nigeria. Kesiye St. Sagbe worked diligently with UAC and rose through the ranks. He was offered the position of Manager but turned it down to pursue his education in 1960.

Out of the little income he earned from UAC, he bought books, read voraciously, and registered for the General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O’ Level) and Advanced Level (GCE A’ Level), which he passed creditably in 1961 and 1962 respectively.

At ABU, UI, and University of Ife

In 1963, he eventually got admission to study at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ibadan, which he abruptly stopped pursuing at the instance of his bosom friend and benefactor, Uche Omo, who persuaded Kesiye St. Sagbe to study law instead. Uche Omo later became a respected Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Kesiye St. Sagbe got admission to the Faculty of Law at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria from 1965 to 1966. Subsequently, due to the Nigerian Civil War, he left ABU Zaria for the University of Ife to continue his studies in Law and graduated in the 1968/1969 set.

As A State Counsel

Kesiye St. Sagbe was called to the Bar at the Nigerian Law School in July 1969. On October 2, 1969, he was employed as a State Counsel in the old Rivers State Ministry of Justice. Still not satisfied, he pursued a Master’s degree on scholarship to the United States of America, studying at the prestigious Columbia University. On May 18, 1977, he obtained his LL.M degree with a distinction in Legislative Development of the Law and Drafting.

Career Life

In 1969, Kesiye St. Sagbe was employed as a state counsel with the Rivers State Ministry of Justice. He was a diligent and worthy attorney in the Ministry of Justice, working in all the departments of the ministry. The renowned late Dr. Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, a Justice of the Supreme Court, was his boss, and he also assisted Mr. R.A Nedd, who later became Justice R.A Nedd of the West Indies Court of Appeal. Kesiye St. Sagbe had an eventful legal career in the Ministry of Justice, old Rivers State, and was promoted through the ranks, reaching the apex of the civil service as Permanent Secretary/Solicitor-General on December 21, 1982, appointed by then Executive Governor of Rivers State, late Chief Melford Okilo. He was further elevated as a High Court Judge in the Rivers State Judiciary on July 22, 1985, by Military Governor Fidelis E. Oyakhilome.

Creation of Bayelsa State

On October 1, 1996, Bayelsa State was created, and Justice Kesiye St. Sagbe’s service was transferred to his home state, where he continued as a Judge of the High Court until his retirement around 2004. As a judge, he adhered to the ethical dictates of the office, dispensing justice without fear, favor, ill-will, or affection.

Legal Courses

He was a proficient draftsman, trained overseas. He was a scholar at the Institute of Overseas Development Administration, London, from 1973 to 1974, and attended the Commonwealth Course for Legal Draftsman in West Africa, held in Ghana in 1975. He also participated in seminars organized by the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, in 1974.

Legacy

Justice Kesiye St. Sagbe was instrumental in drafting the edicts of old Rivers State, now the laws of Rivers State and Bayelsa State, between 1972 and 1983.

Sports and Other Awards

He was a football enthusiast and served as Chairman of the Rivers State Football Association from 1974 to 1982. He was also a member of the Nigeria Football Association. His services and achievements were recognized, and he was awarded a certificate of merit.

Justice Kesiye St. Sagbe was a man of international repute. He received various awards, including the Honorary Award of Assistant District Attorney of Rouge in the State of Louisiana, USA, and citizenship of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA (1980).

As A King

His exemplary leadership qualities, scholarship, sagacity, and integrity led to his popular choice as the Amanyanabo of Okpoama Kingdom on July 22, 1978. He served with distinction, self-confidence, dignity, and accountability until his demise on December 4, 2007. He was known as HRM Hon. Justice Kesiye St. Sagbe, Okpo XX.

Faith

HRM Hon. Justice Kesiye St. Sagbe, Okpo XX, was a devout Christian and an Anglican.

Family

Justice Kesiye St. Sagbe was first married to a Cameroonian woman during his time with UAC in the 1950s, and they had two sons. Unfortunately, he lost contact with his family during the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 to 1969. Later, he married Mrs. Imienebimo, and they had three children.

His Death

HRM Hon. Justice Kesiye St. Sagbe, Okpo XX, died on December 4, 2007, in Port Harcourt and was buried according to the customs and traditions of the Nembe people.

Favorite Bible Passages

“God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.” – I Corinthians 14:33
“A man can only speak of what happened yesterday. A man cannot tell what is going to happen today or tomorrow. The length of our lives is as uncertain as the morning fog – now you see it; soon it is gone.” – James 4:13-16
“Fear not, and be not dismayed at this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” – 2 Chronicles 20:15
“Naked one comes to the world and one cannot take anything away from this world on death.” – Ecclesiastes 5:15
“It is for this reason that God’s mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, great is God’s faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22