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Chief Ayo Gabriel Irikefe: First Urhobo Chief Justice of Nigeria

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Chief Ayo Gabriel Irikefe remains a towering figure in Nigeria’s judicial and constitutional history. As the first Urhobo man to serve as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), his career spanned decades of legal practice and national service, leaving an enduring impact on Nigeria’s judiciary and its evolving federal structure.

Early Life and Education

Born on 3 March 1922 to Aduwa and Theresa Irikefe of the Agbon Kingdom in today’s Delta State, Ayo Irikefe was raised in the rich cultural traditions of the Urhobo people. He received his early schooling in southern Nigeria before travelling to the United Kingdom to study law. Irikefe trained at the Middle Temple, London, and was called to the Bar in 1952, gaining the legal foundation that would shape his distinguished career.

Rise in the Legal Profession

Irikefe quickly distinguished himself as a brilliant lawyer and an unwavering advocate of justice. His professional excellence was formally recognized in 1975, when he was conferred with the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)—one of the highest distinctions in the Nigerian legal profession, introduced that same year.

National Service and Constitutional Role

His influence extended well beyond the courtroom. Following the military coup of 7 August 1975 that brought General Murtala Muhammed to power, Chief Irikefe was appointed to head a high-level panel charged with examining the creation of new states in Nigeria. The committee’s recommendations helped shape the nation’s federal structure by addressing demands for greater representation and autonomy among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups.

Chief Justice of Nigeria

Irikefe’s judicial career culminated in his appointment as Chief Justice of Nigeria, a position he held from 1985 to 1987. As the country’s top judicial officer, he guided the Supreme Court during a period marked by political transition and constitutional challenges. His leadership was widely respected for its balance, integrity, and steadfast commitment to the rule of law.

Honors and Distinctions

In recognition of his exceptional contributions to law and nation-building, Chief Irikefe received some of Nigeria’s highest national honours:

Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR)

Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON)

These awards reflected both his professional accomplishments and his service to Nigeria’s unity and constitutional development.

Later Years and Legacy

Chief Ayo Gabriel Irikefe passed away on 1 August 1996, leaving behind a legacy of judicial excellence and patriotic service. To the Urhobo people, he remains a source of pride as the first from their ethnic group to ascend to the nation’s highest judicial office. To Nigeria as a whole, his life stands as a model of professionalism, statesmanship, and an unwavering commitment to justice and national cohesion.

Sources
Nigerian Tribune. “Obituary: Chief Ayo Irikefe, Former Chief Justice of Nigeria,” August 1996.

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If DNA Tests Confirm That Your Husband Is The Father Of All Your Children I Will Give You Cash Gift – Soludo’s Wife Dares Ekwunife

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The first lady of Anambra State, Nonye Soludo has berated the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), senator Uche Ekwunife, over what she described as malicious allegations” against her family.

Recall that Ekwunife had alleged that Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his wife were part of the administration of late Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju between 1999 and 2003.

Ekwunife stated this while reacting to reports that her academic qualifications were questionable.

Speaking via a statement on Saturday, Soludo dared Ekwunife to a public oath and DNA tests on her children.

She warned that legal actions would be taken against the Senator if she does not withdrew her claims and apologised within 72 hours.

Soludo said, “For starters, let me repeat three verifiable facts. One, I have never worked for anyone in my life. I have been a professional and an entrepreneur all my adult life. Two, I never met Dr. Mbadinuju of blessed memory in my life. Three, in my 55 years on planet earth, I have known only one man, Chukwuma Soludo.

The First Lady further issued a challenge to Ekwunife, “Since she claims to be a converted Catholic, I challenge her and both of us to swear an oath of fidelity and chastity at any Cathedral in front of the Blessed Sacrament. I will also swear with my children that I have known only one man, Chukwuma Soludo,” she added.

She also proposed DNA tests for both families, to be conducted in three reputable hospitals in London, stressing that she would bear all expenses.

“As a businesswoman, I will pay for your and your family’s travels as well as for the tests. If, after the tests, it is confirmed that your husband is the father of all your children, I will congratulate you with a cash award. I can confirm that my family is ready for this test at any moment of your choice,” she stated.

Soludo concluded by urging Ekwunife to recant her statements and tender an unreserved apology within 72 hours, warning that her lawyers had been notified in preparation for possible legal action.

However, in reaction to the development, Ekwunife, in a statement released on Saturday, stated she gave a “friendly advice” to Soludo.

Ekwunife noted, “Mrs. Soludo does not owe me any explanation regarding personal family matters. If my statement caused any discomfort to Mrs. Soludo, she owes her husband an explanation, not me.”

She further stated, “Challenging me to respond or undergo tests does not involve me, as I am not part of her family affairs. She should focus on addressing any concerns with her husband.”

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PHOTOS: The Food Can’t Waste, Come With Your Coolers – Hilda Baci Begs Lagosians To Eat Jollof Rice After Breaking Record

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Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci has appealed to residents of Lagos to come forward and collect food from her recently concluded Guinness World Record attempt for the largest pot of jollof rice.

It was reports that the event, held at Eko Hotel in Lagos, produced thousands of kilograms of rice, much of which remains available despite large-scale packaging and distribution efforts.

Baci explained in a video message on Instagram that there was still an excess of food and encouraged people to bring containers to take portions home.

She stated that she would remain at the venue until the giant pot was emptied, stressing that the food must not go to waste.

According to her, everyone in Lagos is welcome to partake in the meal, which she described as well-prepared and abundant.

She said, “We’re still packaging food. There is still so much food. Please, you guys, come through and come and get the food. It’s a lot and we cannot waste it. Please, the food is good. I promise you, a trial will convince you. Just come through, you can bring your coolers. See, we still have so much food.

“Even with all the packaging, there is still so much food. Please, I beg you, you guys, you can come to Eko Hotel. This is 6 a.m. I’m not leaving this place. I’ve been here since the day before yesterday. And I’m not going to leave this place until this pot is empty and until everybody in Lagos has eaten from this food. So, please, you people should come and get this food.”

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PHOTOS: Why I Cooked 200 Bags Instead Of 250 – Hilda Baci

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Nigerian celebrity chef and Guinness World Record holder, Hilda Baci, has explained why she opted to cook 200 bags of rice instead of the initially announced 250 in her latest bid to set a world record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style Jollof rice.

Baci, who shot to fame after her 2023 cook-a-thon, began the challenge on Friday at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, drawing a carnival-like crowd of food lovers, celebrities, and dignitaries.

Among those in attendance were Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, dancer Kaffy, and Bamidele Abiodun, First Lady of Ogun State.

Addressing journalists at the venue, Baci explained that her decision to scale down was due to the 20,000kg weight limit of the crane and measuring device provided for the event.

“If you notice, when we started we weighed the pot and we need to weigh everything that goes into the pot when we’re done.

The goal was to hit about 17,000 to 18,000 kilogrammes including the pot. But since the crane can only weigh 20,000 kilogrammes, I had to go slightly below that. That’s why I cut it down by a thousand kilogrammes,” she said.

According to her, the 200 bags of rice produced 4,000kg of Jollof, which is enough to feed 20,000 people.

“This 4,000 kilogrammes of rice will still feed 20,000 people, so we’re still up there,” she added.

Baci revealed that the ambitious feat took almost a year of preparation and about nine hours of continuous cooking.

“Honestly, Gino and I figuring this whole thing out was hectic. It took Mr. Ayo two months to fabricate the custom pot, then nine months to plan the event. Cooking the entire meal itself took nearly nine hours,” she said.

Despite the stress, she described the challenge as both exciting and rewarding.

“We’re not done because we still have to distribute the food and make sure everybody here eats to their satisfaction. But so far, I’m very happy with what we’ve achieved today,” she noted.

Interestingly, Baci revealed that the idea was not originally conceived as a Guinness World Record attempt, but rather as a food experience for Nigerians.

“When I came up with this idea, I did not think about it as a world record, quite frankly. It was about bringing people together and feeding as many as possible. Some of you even came with your coolers,” she said with a smile.

“We’re feeding the nation,” she declared.

The London-based Guinness World Records also joined in the excitement, posting a video of the Lagos event on its 𝕏 handle.

“What’s cookin’? Best of luck to @hildabacicooks who’s attempting a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian style Jollof rice today,” it wrote.

This comes just two years after the body certified Baci’s record-breaking cook-a-thon in 2023, which earned her global recognition and inspired many young Nigerians to explore careers in the culinary industry.

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