Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge is an erudite Professor of Constitutional Law with admirable scholarly attributes who was crowned in a colourful ceremony attended by distinguished personalities nationwide. He served 42 years at the bar and 42 years in crowded lecture halls, imparting knowledge and building prodigies at the Bar and Bench. His services from his formative years to retirement as Director General Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies was eventful. Over the years, the erudite scholar has grown unimaginably in status to become a man of exemplary character and outstanding achievements in public administration, philanthropy and service to God and humanity. Obi Azinge succeeded another cerebral son of Asaba Kingdom, Obi Prof. Chike Joseph Edozien, who joined his ancestors earlier this year. Despite his rich resume, which is what the corporate world would jostle for.
Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge had one job: to lead his people as the next Asagba of Asaba, Delta state, which he succeeded in ascending the throne. Joseph Chike Edozien, a professor of medicine, vacated the revered stool in February 2024 when he joined his ancestors after 33 years of ruling over the affairs of Asaba. With all traditional funeral rites now completed, all eyes were on who would sit on the throne. According to his official profile, the Asagba of Asaba attended St Patrick’s College, Asaba, between 1970 and 1975 and then proceeded to the University of Lagos in 1976, where he obtained a degree of Bachelor of Laws with a Second Class Upper Division.
He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1980. He proceeded to the University of London for his LL.M degree, specializing in Comparative Constitutional Law and Shipping Law in 1983. He completed his PhD in 1986, writing his doctoral thesis “n “Electoral Laws in Nigeria”. He began his academic career at the University of Benin in 1981, teaching several courses, including the Nigerian Legal System, Legal Process, Jurisprudence, Constitutional Law, Labour Law, Public International Law and Administrative Law.
He also taught Information Technology Law and Law of Taxation at the University of Abuja. To demonstrate his extreme passion for education, he also taught the Nigerian Legal System at the Nasarawa State University, free of charge. At the University of Benin, he held several positions in academics and administration. He was a Member, of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Legal Practice (2004 -2008); Member of NBA Continuing Legal Education Committee (2003-2006); Chairman NBA, Section on Business Law and its Sub Committee on Sports and Entertainment. In May 2009, he was appointed the 5th Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, where he demonstrated outstanding passion for legal scholarship and education and edited over sixty-three (63) books and journals. Outside his academic career, he is actively involved in community development. In 2015, he was appointed a member of the Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal, CSAT. Azinge served three attorneys general and ministers of justice as special assistant and legal adviser in Nigeria’s most challenging historical period, covering the draconian military regimes of Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha.
But it is his claim to the throne that will matter the most as the Asagba Palace formally crowned him the 14th Asagba of Asaba in the presence of former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori; the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Emmanuel Chukwuma; members of the Asagba-in-Council, Obis, Olinzeles, chiefs, among other traditional title holders and eminent personalities from within and outside the state. Asaba started rotating the throne among the five Ebos, each representing founder’s five sons Ezenei, Ugbomanta, Agu, Ajaji and Onaje in 1925. Edozien was from the Ezenei clan (Umuezei), and his successor in the genealogical and rotational order came from Ugbomanta. The Asagba-in-Council announced Azinge’se’s selection as the most qualified among the ten contenders in the race, who all hail from Ugbomanta quarters. He said”, “Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, has been selected among 10 contenders after due process.
In his acceptance speech, Obi (Prof) Epiphany Azinge, who was flanked by his wife, Agu Nwanyi Valerie Azinge, SAN,, thanked the Ochendo for effectively modifying the peaceful and transparent process that led to his selection and urged other eminent contenders who were not as lucky as he was to join him in giving Asaba a purposeful reign.
The new Asagba reiterated his pledge to bring about the needed transformation that would reposition Asaba for greatness, promising to collaborate with the state and Oshimili South local government and other relevant authorities to ensure the realization of set goals. These include upholding and promoting the traditions and culture of the Asaba people, fostering unity among the people and promoting inclusivity, establishing a welfare/development fund for community development, building a befitting permanent palace of the Asagba of Asaba, attracting Federal University to Asaba, among others.
