To most people in the legal circle in Nigeria, he is Learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Among the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, he’s celebrated as a reformative former Chairman. Nationally, he serves as the indefatigable chairman of the SARC for the Nigerian Bar Association, and within the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, he’s recognized as a distinguished Fellow and a constant Faculty member.
However, to Onigegewura, he is simply C.I.
I did not coin the initials. For those conversant with the practice amongst Litigators, it is customary to refer to one’s colleagues by their initials. Therefore, in our days at Aluko & Oyebode, Tunde Fagbohunlu SAN was JBF, Adeniyi Ayodele Adegbonmire SAN (now a Senator) was AAA, Tokunbo Wahab (now Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment) was TW, I was LA, while Chukwuka Ikwuazom SAN was CI. In the next one year, I would have known CI for two decades. During this period, C.I. has consistently proven himself to be remarkably dependable, supremely focused, exceptionally industrious, and absolutely reliable.
When I joined the Tier 1 law firm of Aluko & Oyebode as an Associate upon my return from the University of Warwick, I indicated interest in Tax practice. The immediate challenge was that CI had already established a deserved reputation in the Firm as the Tax expert. Others in similar situation would have frowned at a newcomer encroaching onto their turf, not CI. When Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, who was Managing Partner of the Firm at the time, introduced me to CI as the new Tax expert, CI beamed with his characteristic smile and welcomed me to the fold. This gesture set the tone for a relationship based on mutual respect from the outset.
He was impressed with the fact that the thesis for both my first and second degrees focused on Taxation. On my part, I was more impressed with the fact that someone who did not do Taxation in the University had developed himself to become an expert in the Law of Taxation in just a couple of years. My respect for him was tremendous. That’s CI for you: supremely focused.
CI was and is still generous with his mental resources. He was of tremendous assistance in converting my theoretical knowledge of Taxation to practical application. I can’t recall any instance of unhealthy rivalry between us. We shared ideas and knowledge and I am always impressed with his analytical approach to issues. I want to believe that if he had not studied Law, he would have made it as a surgeon. Such is his forensic grasp of issues that one could not but marvel at the surgical manner he deals with legal and tax issues.
Many years later, I was privileged to serve at sub-national level in my field of specialisation; Taxation. Part of my remit was to organise tax training for the Internal Revenue Service personnel. CI proved to be a dependable and invaluable resource person. Anytime any of my invited faculty failed, for some reasons, to show up, CI was my default lecturer. With just a phone call, CI would drop whatever he was doing to speak on any topic I selected for him.
Our deep friendship and brotherhood notwithstanding, we have had cause to appear against each other in contested litigation. Anyone seeing us in court arguing legal points could be forgiven for assuming that we were sworn enemies. On other occasions, we have also collaborated beautifully to the benefit of our respective clients. I recall a Tax case we did before Justice RIB Adebiyi of the High Court of Lagos State. CI appeared with Peters Agboola for the Claimant, and I appeared for the Lagos Internal Revenue Service. The stage was set for an epic battle. However, after the exchange of pleadings, CI and myself sat down together and discussed the issues. That was the end of the case. It was resolved amicably. CI’s clients were happy and Lagos State Government was happy. This epitomises his results driven approach that everyone talks about.
As young tax practitioners, CI suggested that we needed to deepen our knowledge of Taxation. I informed Prof Abiola Sanni SAN who was my Tax Consultant. And that’s how CI and I became members of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. Today, it is gratifying that we have both become Fellows of that distinguished professional institute.
I was serving at the national level when CI came to Abuja one day to see me. He told me of his intention to serve our home branch of the NBA as the Chairman. Knowing his passion for service and reform, I did not hesitate before endorsing his candidacy. He was massively supported by my former constituency at the Ministry of Justice in Alausa. The rest is history. CI served creditably and passionately, and I believe that the Premier Bar is today all the better for his administration’s massive accomplishment.
To CI, public office is nothing but a platform for service. It is not for personal acclaim, self-glorification or for the putting of one’s face on program fliers. To CI, the essence of being a member of an association is the value he brings to the society. In this, CI has manifested himself. I used to tease him that if I wanted to do a Deed Poll to change his middle name, the only befitting name I would give him is ‘Value Added’.
CI is committed to adding value to whatever project he is committed to. I recall when he confided in me that he wanted to attain the exalted rank of Senior Advocate. The terrain was rough, the challenges were impregnable, and the assignment appeared daunting.
I jokingly asked him if his late dad was a SAN or a JSC. Despite the jokes, I was confident that CI was exceedingly prepared for the journey. Thus, it came as no surprise when I saw the name of my tax partner on the list of successful applicants for the rank alongside our brother, Abdul Muhammed. Eminently qualified, and richly deserving of the prestigious award. We are all products of Aluko & Oyebode, only the best is good enough!
One of the indices for benchmarking a leader is the quality of his appointees, after all, it is only the deep that can call to the deep. In this regard, I believe that CI’s appointment as the Chairman of Security Agencies Relations Committee of the NBA is nothing but inspired. With CI at the helms of the Committee, SARC has continued to foster cooperation and goodwill between the Bar and the security agencies across the federation. CI has been at the forefront of championing the rights of legal practitioners using his characteristic charm, dedication, and focus. I am certain we all remember the yeoman role he played when Uduak Adams, a learned colleague, was tragically and wrongly accused of kidnapping and subsequently subjected to a horrific act of mob violence.
CI is a lawyer’s lawyer. He is a leader who leads by examples and not precepts. He is a friend whose friendship is blind to tribe and gender. He is the athlete who will not drop the baton when it matters most. He is the player who will not drop the ball at the critical time in the game. He is the type of the leader that the Nigerian Bar Association needs at this time of our national development. It appeared to me that our revered jurist, Justice Oputa had CI in mind in 1997 when His Lordship opined that:
“the Nigerian lawyer of today owes important obligations not only to his/her clients and the Courts but also to his community and to society at large. He can no longer be, or remain a stranger to important developments in the political, economic and social affairs of his community and his country. Today, a far greater and more systematic contribution is expected from you lawyers.”
In my humble view, CI is that lawyer who is not a stranger to important developments in the political, economic and social affairs of Nigeria. CI is that lawyer who is committed to providing systematic contributions not only to the NBA but to Nigeria at large.
Onigegewura is my name, and a Man Like Chuka is the Man that the NBA needs.
