By Magnus Eze
Prof Awa Uma Kalu, SAN, a member of the Body of Benchers, has made remarkable achievements in the area of legal education, legal scholarship, advocacy and character moulding.
Born on March 9, 1953, Prof Kalu hails from Ohafia in Abia State. He had his early education at Anglican Grammar School, Umuahia and the famous Methodist College, Uzuakoli, before proceeding to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Ile-Ife to study Law. He graduated in 1977 and earned the LL. B (Hons) degree of the university with Second Class (Upper Division).
Prof Kalu passed through the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar in 1978. After his NYSC programme in Sokoto State, he enrolled at the Law Faculty of the University of Lagos for the Master’s degree in Law. He also bagged a PhD in Law.
This legal icon was, at different times, a Law Lecturer at the University of Lagos, and Imo (now Abia) State University, where he taught the Law of Evidence, the Law of Tort, Criminal Law, and other law courses.
Prof Kalu’s imprint is adorned as a badge of honour by an array of his former students, many, who are great lawyers today, or who have attained the prestigious rank of professors of law or joined him as distinguished members of the Inner Bar or have become notable judicial officers of the Court of Appeal and High Courts or leading political figures.
He provided a platform for robust academic and intellectual pursuit through the publication of “Lawyers’ Bi-Annual,” and “Comparative Law.” Through these publications, he opens the eyes of many lawyers and judicial officers to fundamental legal issues, which strengthen them in their profession. The distinguished Silk holds an enviable record of working with two Attorneys-General of the Federation and Ministers of Justice, in the persons of Prince Bola Ajibola, SAN and Chief Clement Akpamgbo, SAN at a stretch. He also meritoriously served as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Abia State, where he implemented reforms and formulated policies that enhanced efficiency in the state’s judiciary and governance.
In other services to Nigeria, Chief Kalu distinguished himself, serving, at different times, as 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, the Nigerian Delegation on the Democratization Process in Ethiopia; member of the Steering Committee of the Second All-Africa Law Ministers Conference in Cairo Egypt; and member of the Nigerian delegation to the 46th and 47th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1991 and 1992.
A leading Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), he flies the flag of honour and integrity very high. He is professional in his conduct and meticulous in his approach. He is also a strong voice, as his contributions to legal matters are insightful, robust and always germane.
For his contributions to the development of the legal system in Nigeria and achievements over the years, Prof Awa Kalu wins The Sun Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023.