Ilugbekhai, a son of prominent lawyer and activist, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, tells ARUKAINO UMUKORO about his father’s legal battles and triumphs
Can you please introduce yourself?
I am Ilugbekhai Ozekhome. My friends call me Ilu. I attended Lagos State University, Ojo, where I studied law. From there, I proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja, where I bagged a Barrister at Law Degree and was called to the Nigerian Bar. After my master’s degree, I took the California Bar examination and opened a law firm in Los Angeles. Early last year, I was appointed as the Senior Special Assistant on Legal Matters to the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole. I am happily married and have children.
Has your dad’s name opened doors for you?
It has definitely. The queer thing about having a prominent father like I do is that in as much as his name opens doors, it also has the possibility of closing certain doors. One only hopes that the doors it closes are not very important ones. It is akin to a double-edged sword. I recall in early 2000, I had gone for a job interview for the position of an in-house counsel at the legal department of a popular bank. I recall the head of the legal department then saying to me: ‘Ozeks, you don’t need this job.’ That was how I lost that job. But there are more benefits to having a father like mine.
Your dad is a prominent lawyer and activist. Is his public personality different from his private life?
One of the major attributes of my father his is consistency in life. What one sees is what one gets. He exhibits the same passionate attitude in his private life as in his public life. Because of his consistency and unwavering views on most national and local issues, I can make a guess about his reaction on certain issues. I am not saying he is a predictable man but he certainly is a consistent man.
What are the values you learnt from him?
I learnt that hard work and dedication pay.
What did your father tell you about his legal challenges and triumphs?
My father did not need to tell me anything about his legal challenges and endless struggles for a better tomorrow for the common man. I have always been present in the thick of things. I was aware of the birth of the Civil Liberties Organisation, one of the foremost human rights organisations in Nigeria. My father was a pioneer member alongside eminent Nigerians such as a former member of the House of Representatives and the current commissioner for Agriculture in Edo State Abdul Oroh. I was present during the inauguration of the Universal Defenders of Democracy which my father solely founded. He used the organisation to fight successive military regimes. He also suffered countless harassments and unlawful detentions in the hands of the military government. I was equally present in the initial meetings when he collaborated with great minds such as the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN (my dad’s eternal mentor), Mr. Femi Falana, SAN and Dr. Tunji Abayomi, among others to form the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria. He is a man with humble beginnings who is where he is today by God’s grace. He worked so hard to get to where he is today and to keep his name untainted.
How did he discipline any child who misbehaved?
He is strict and a no-nonsense disciplinarian. He is an ardent believer of the saying “spare the rod, spoil the child.” If one misbehaved as a child, one should be rest assured that one would be placed back on track swiftly. If a sharp verbal reprimand fails (which is rare), a whip is just sure to be around the corner.
You are also a lawyer. Did he influence your career choice and your siblings’?
No, he did not. My becoming a lawyer was entirely of my own free will. Ever since I was a kid, I have always wanted to be a lawyer. I admired the clothes my father wore to court and I felt I wanted to dress the way he dresses. I ended up becoming a lawyer without any prodding or pressure. It was that simple. My siblings have also enjoyed the same liberty in choosing whatever careers they desire. One of my sisters is studying to become a lawyer. My other siblings are in schools freely pursuing their preferred careers.
How is his social life?
My father is a social person. Unfortunately, his social activities are greatly hampered by his hectic work schedule. However, he holds nothing back when he is at social events. He enjoys dancing.
Who are his closest friends?
My father has several close friends. He is social and outgoing hence he makes friends easily. I will however not list the names of his close friends.
Your dad was kidnapped last year. Can you recall what he went through?
He was kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination on Friday, August 23, 2013 at about 3:30 pm. He was subsequently released three weeks later. Upon his release, surprisingly, his spirits were high. Rejuvenated by his unpalatable experience in the hands of the kidnappers, he promised to continue to fight for public good and astutely stand for truth, equity and fair play more than ever before. He promised to continue to be the voice of the voiceless, defender of the oppressed and the downtrodden. The outpouring of love and prayers from Nigerians was overwhelming. It was comforting to know that my father is a man well-loved and appreciated by Nigerians as demonstrated by the endless phone calls and prayers received from sympathisers and well-wishers from around the world.
Was a ransom paid to the kidnappers?
None that I know of.
Your father was very vocal about how Nigeria has failed her youths, especially when he was released. What are his views about the country at 54?
My father has always been vocal about the state of the country before and after his release. If anything, his kidnapping simply reinforced and underlined his standpoint. His views about Nigeria have never changed. He believes in the unity of the country. He also believes that a country blessed with so much human and natural resources like Nigeria ought to be competing with world powers. It should be doing a whole lot better than what it is doing right now as a nation.
What are your father’s likes and dislikes?
He appreciates and rewards hard work and creativity. He is a philanthropist; abhors laziness and lies. He is a very open man with no secrets. I can say he is a very passionate and emotional man. My dad is not ashamed to cry when the occasion calls for it. He is a consummate family man and a great loving father as well. No matter what his overwhelming schedule maybe, he always finds time to hang out with the kids and even plays football with us.
How does your father react whenever he is angry?
When he is angry, I call him “thunderstorm” while he calls himself “volcanic eruption.” One will not want to be the recipient of his anger because it is not a pretty sight at all. There is no guess work when he is angry because he is not good at pretending. He shows it on the spot. The good thing however is that his anger is as short-lived as it is intense.
He was criticised in some quarters for allegedly working for the government. What was his view about this criticism?
When you say he works for the government, I am not quite sure what that means. I am not aware my father was ever employed by the government into any position. I am also unaware of any political appointment or position that he has held in the past or which he currently holds. If by “working for the government”, you are referring to his handling of high profile cases in a court of law, the most recent being his representation of the Minister of Petroleum, Alison Madueke, you need to understand that my dad is first and foremost a lawyer. That is his profession. As a practising lawyer duly licensed to practise law before all the courts in Nigeria, he has a right to accept briefs from whoever he chooses to accept briefs from. That is how he makes a living. He is not a business man, he is not a contractor. Have you heard that he was awarded any kind of contract by any political party? There is none that I am aware of.
I heard of some vague criticisms regarding his stand on the suspension of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi by President Goodluck Jonathan. His stand was that the suspension was in accordance with the provisions of the law and that it was long overdue. In some quarters, few people alleged that he was being paid by the President to support the suspension. Like every Nigerian who takes a keen interest on prevalent national issues, my father simply voiced his opinion in an article published in all the daily newspapers. He was also invited by broadcast stations for interviews and he reiterated pretty much the same points marshalled in his article. For him, it was not about taking sides or necessarily supporting the government. Truthfully, he held nothing against the ex-CBN boss.
What about the views of some critics that he, at some point, seemingly deviated from his activist roles?
My father has never deviated from his life of activism. Personally, I have not seen any conduct on his part that will lead me to suspect let alone believe that he no longer stands for and fights for the masses. Till date, he continues to be the voice of the voiceless, defender of the oppressed and battle axe of the common man. He is aware that one cannot please humans. Criticisms will always come, real and unreal, genuine or ill-motivated, there is nothing one can do about that. As a matter of fact, if nobody is criticising one, one is probably not doing something worthwhile. Ultimately, the bottom-line is to stay positive and keep doing the good works one enjoys doing.
What are his hobbies?
If work is a hobby, that is one of his hobbies. He loves to work. He is a workaholic. He is also a voracious reader and would read anything in print. He also enjoys swimming, playing soccer and travelling. He relaxes with a game of Ludo and cards as well.
What is his favourite food?
My dad enjoys pounded yam and fresh fish soup. He loves all kinds of fruits. Recently, he loves having the fruits blended.
What is his daily routine like?
His daily routine is very hectic. He wakes up at 5am, depending on whether he is in Abuja or Lagos. With several appointments daily including running his Abuja, Lagos, Benin and Agenebode law offices, each day flies fast.
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