All is now set for the historic coronation of Prof. Epiphany Azinge, a legal luminary and distinguished academic, as the 14th Asagba of Asaba.
The coronation ceremony will take place on Saturday at the Asagba Palace, Ogwa Ukwu, in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Prof. Azinge’s rise to the throne follows the passing of the 13th Asagba, the late Prof. Chike Edozien, who passed away on February 14, 2024. The Asagba-in-Council, the traditional ruling body of Asaba, announced the appointment of Prof. Azinge as the new king on August 18, 2024.
Before his royal elevation, Prof. Azinge held the traditional title of Okilolo of Asaba. His selection as the new Asagba was guided by the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979, which governs leadership succession in Delta State. The five quarters of Asaba, along with the Iyagba quarters, unanimously endorsed him for the throne, selecting him from a pool of 10 contenders, including Tony Ogugia Konwea, Prof. Emmanuel Onwuka, and Chinedu Esealuka.
Prof. Azinge, a former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, will be supported by his wife, Dr. Valerie Azinge (SAN), a legal expert in her own right and daughter of the late Igwe John Nwodo of Ukehe, Nsukka, Enugu State.
Profile of the New Asagba:
Born on November 13, 1957, in Aba, Abia State, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (OON, SAN) hails from Asaba, Oshimili South L.G.A., Delta State. He attended St. Patrick’s College, Asaba, before obtaining his law degree from the University of Lagos in 1976. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1980, he furthered his education at the University of London, where he earned his LL.M and PhD in law, specializing in Comparative Constitutional Law and Shipping Law. His doctoral thesis focused on Nigeria’s electoral laws.
Prof. Azinge’s academic journey began at the University of Benin, where he taught various legal courses and held key administrative roles. His passion for education extended to the University of Abuja and Nassarawa State University, where he taught for free. Over the years, Prof. Azinge has contributed immensely to Nigeria’s legal landscape, serving as a Special Assistant to the Attorney General of the Federation from 1991 to 1997 and playing a significant role in drafting landmark laws, including the Money Laundering Act and the Advanced Fee Fraud Act.
In 2006, he was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Prof. Azinge has published extensively in both local and international journals, editing over 63 legal books and journals during his tenure as Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
Prof. Azinge’s contributions extend beyond academia and law. He is the founder of the Sojourners Medicate Foundation, which provides aid to accident victims and scholarships to underprivileged Nigerians. In recognition of his outstanding achievements, he was honored with an honorary LLD by Commonwealth University, Belize, in 2013, and was awarded the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 2014.
In 2015, he was appointed to the Commonwealth Secretariat Arbitral Tribunal, a testament to his high moral standing and judicial experience.
Prof. Azinge is married to Dr. Valerie Azinge, and they are blessed with four children. His ascension marks a new chapter in the rich history of Asaba, combining his distinguished legal career with the responsibilities of traditional leadership.
