Hon. Justice Edith Agbakoba of the Abuja Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria died this morning Monday 6th November 2023.
Hon. President, Hon. Justice Benedict Kanyip, OFR has ordered all offices of the Court to close at 1pm for today and all flags to fly at half-mast throughout this week in honour of the late Jurist who died early hours of today.
His Lordship, Hon. Justice E. N. Agbakoba was born in London to the family of Edward Chike EKPECHI and Anthonia Chinke EKPECHI, both from Onitsha North LGA of Anambra State.
Justice Agbakoba attended Notre Dame High School, London from 1974 to 1977 and Girls High School, Awkunanaw, Enugu from 1977 to 1980 for WASC. She was admitted into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and bagged an LL.B in 1984 and called to the Bar in 1985.
She bagged a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Law from California South University, Irvine CA, USA IN 2012.
Justice Agbakoba performed her NYSC primary assignment at Legal aid Council, State Secretariat, Ibadan in 1985/86 service year. She started her career as Counsel at the Legal Aid Office, Anambra State in 1986 and rose to the position of Principal Legal Officer in 1993.
She was promoted to Assistant Chief Legal Aid Officer in 1997 and Zonal Director, Legal Aid Council in charge of five [5] states namely, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara States in 2003, a position She held till 2005 before her promotion to the position of Deputy Director, Civil Litigation, Legal Aid Council Headquarters and was later appointed Director of Litigation in 2011. She also served as Director, Civil Justice at the Legal Aid Council Headquarters, Abuja before her appointment as a Judge of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
She attended several professional courses and conferences at home and abroad and had many publications to her credit.
Justice Agbakoba was a member of many professional bodies like NBA, International Dispute Resolution Institute, Institute of Fraud Examiners and Associate Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitration, UK and Nigeria Branch.