Office of the Dean, Faculty of Law

Professor C. C. Wigwe

Current Dean, Faculty Of Law

Office of the Dean, Faculty of Law

The Faculty of Law, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt (formerly known as Rivers State University of Science and Technology) was established in the year 1981, a year after the establishment of the University.

It was established to meet the yearnings and aspirations of young men and women of the Niger Delta region who desire to gain access to legal education in order to contribute their quota in the social, political and economic development of the region in particular and the country in general. Its presence in a University of Science and Technology was however, welcomed with uninformed skepticism as it was seen as incongruous and inappropriate. It was an uncommon faculty to be established in a University of Science and Technology in Nigeria at the time where people hardly acknowledged the need and relevance of law to science and technology.

However, there was an apparent lack of understanding of the interrelationship between law and sciences and, in particular, between law and technology. Little was known about the fact the both science and technology are governed by laws and that one can only understand and effectively deploy these subjects if one has sufficient knowledge and grounding in the relevant laws.

Today, that pessimism or rather “uninformed skepticism” has transformed to wide acceptance of the programme, as our graduates had continued to put up commendable performance at the Nigerian Law School, year in, year out and some have continued to distinguish themselves in the wider Nigeria society.

As we report, Tech Law has emerged an area of global interest and technology has revolutionized the global community and the world of work. What started in 1981 and was seen as “incongruous and inappropriate” in a University of Science and Technology which has gained momentum and has become nationally welcome and acceptable.

The Faculty started out as a monolithic Faculty in 1981 without a department. However, the need to ease administrative challenges led to the creation of Departments in the Faculty. Thus, during the Deanship of Mrs. A. E. Ogbuigwe, as Acting Dean, two Departments, namely; Department of Jurisprudence, Public and International Law and the Department of Commercial, Private and Property Law were created.

Again, in line with NUC minimum standards, the Faculty was in the year 2002 during the Deanship of Mr. N. S. Nlerum (Ag. Dean) restructured to the present four Departments to wit:

Department of Business Law
Department of Jurisprudence and International Law
Department of Private & Property Law
Department of Public Law

The following persons have been Dean of the Faculty at various times namely;

Dr. A.B.K Anane Ag Dean 1981 – 1984
Mr. V. M. Ngoh Ag Dean 1984 -1985
Mr. Johnson Asiedu Ag Dean 1986- 1988
Mrs. A. E. Ogbuigwe Ag Dean 1988 – 1991
Dr. A. Uchegbu Ag Dean 1991 -1992
Mrs. A. E. Ogbuigwe Ag Dean 1992 – 1995
Mr. A. O. Muzan Ag Dean 1995 – 1997
Mr. F. J. Fekumo Ag Dean 1997 – 1999
Mr. E. S. Nwauche Ag Dean 1999 – 2001
Mr. N. S. Okogbule Ag Dean 2001 – 2003
Prof. Uche Jack-Osimiri Dean 2003 – 2007
Mr. Z. Adangor Ag Dean 2007 – 2009
Mrs. F. O. Akaakar Ag Dean 2009 – 2011
Dr. O.V.C Okene Ag Dean 2011 – 2014
Prof. N. S. Okogbule Dean 2014 -2018
Prof. O.V.C Okene Dean 2018-2022
Prof C.C.Wigwe, SAN Dean 2022-date.

Staff list in the Department

Name	Rank	Area Of Specialisation
Prof Nlerum Sunday Okogbule (VC,RSU)	Professor	International Economic Law, Human Rights and Legal Theory
Prof. Christian C. Wigwe, SAN (Dean of Law)	Professor	Jurisprudence Law, International Economic law, Law of Evidence, International Trade Law and Company Law.
Prof. Samuel Chisa Dike	Professor	Energy Law (Oil and Gas)Renewable, Electricity and Nuclear Energy Law and Comparative Environmental Law, Maritime Law, Solid Minerals, Fiscal Laws, Contract and Corporate Governance
Prof. Uche Jack Osimiri	Professor	Property, Commercial, Law and Taxation.
Prof. Andrew Ifeanyichukwu Chukwuemerie SAN	Professor	Commercial Law especially International Commercial Law
Prof Suleiman Ikpechukwu	Professor	Comparative Criminal Law
Prof Ovunda Vincent Okene	Professor	Labour Law, Company Law, International and Comparative Law, International Trade Law and Legal Research Method
Prof. Zaccheus Adangor	Professor	Constitutional Law, Environmental Law, Oil and Gas Law and Evidence Law
Prof Igwe, Onyeka Williams	Professor	International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law and International Law
Prof. Chukwucheta T. Emejuru	Professor	Environmental and Natural Resources Law
Prof. Michael Chukwujindu Ogwezzy	Professor	Human Rights Law
Prof. Clifford Anaele Nwanyanwu	Professor	Criminal Law
Dr. Richard Aduche Wokocha	Reader	Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence
Dr. Chidi Ebenezer Halliday	Reader	Company Law
Dr. Grace O Akolokwu	Reader	Human Rights and Property Law
Dr. Linus O. Nwauzi	Reader	Constitutional Law, Family Law, Human Right and Labour Law
Dr. Felix C. Amadi	Reader	Conyeyance and Legal Drafting
Florence Akaakar	Senior Lecturer	Oil and Gas Law, Environmental Law; Women and Children’s Right
Dr. Izzi, Mabel Otivbo	Senior Lecturer	Human Rights Law, Gender/Child Law, Law of Torts, Family Law and Customary Law
Dr. Jerry Amadi	Senior Lecturer	Human Rights and Jurisprudence
Dr. Boma Geoffrey Toby	Senior Lecturer	Jurisprudence & International Law
Dr. Obraori Nmabunwa Peters	Senior Lecturer	Human Rights Law
Dr. Nnamdi Kingsley. Akani	Senior Lecturer	International Law and Diplomacy
Dr. Anugbum Onuoha	Senior Lecturer	Property Law and Secured Credit Transactions, Valuation and Compensation.
Dr. Obugheni William Arugu	Senior Lecturer	Commercial, Shipping, Energy and Natural Resources, Environmental Law
Dr. Martina Ebikake Nwanyanwu	Senior Lecturer	Commercial, Shipping, Energy and Natural Resources, Environmental Law
Dr. Martina Ebikake Nwanyanwu	Senior Lecturer	Land Law, Labour/Industrial Law
Ebiriene I Aman	Lecturer 1
Ikeh Fabian Chijioke	Lecturer l	Maritime Law and Insurance Law
Dr. Edwyn Jonathan	Lecturer l	Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence
Dr. Soibiteinyim George-Ibikiri	Lecturer l	Law of Tort, Land Law and Family Law
Chairman Ihua Maduenyi	Lecturer l	System, British Legal System and European Legal System, ustomary Law, Criminal Law, nternational Humanitarian Law, Jurisprudence and Legal Theories
Eberechi Osimiri	Lecturer l
Dr. Sotonye Frank	Lecturer l
Maudlyn Park	Lecturer l
Dr. Chukuma Orike Ajie	Lecturer	Labour and Industrial Law, Contract and Business Law
Claribel Diebo Fab-Eme	Lecturer	Family Law, Legislative Studies and Jurisprudence
Dr. Eberechi Ndudi Ake Okere	Lecturer 1	Labour Law and Commercial Law
Dr. Sylvester Kokpan	Lecturer l	Aviation Law and International Law
Frank-Igwe Uzodinma	Lecturer	Land Law and Law of Arbitration
Woha, Etheldred Ego	Lecturer 1	Equity and Trust, Land Law, Oil and Gas Law and Environmental Laws
Soboma Odimabo- Nsijilem	Lecturer 1	Commercial Law
Innocent Okogbule C.S	Lecturer l	Environmental, Oil and Gas Law
Dr. Emem Eze Chioma	Lecturer l	Oil and Gas Law, Maritime/Shipping Law and International Commercial Law
Dr. Tony A. Francis	Lecturer l	Environment Law
Dr. Victor Nonso Enebeli	Lecturer l	Constitutional & Administrative Law
Emmanuel M. Wosu	Lecturer l	Industrial Relations and Commercial Transaction
Aladokiye E. Gabriel-Whyte	Lecturer l	Internet Governance, Gender/ Family Laws
Dr.Ebiemere Osaro	Lecturer l	Taxation and Investment Law, Environmental Law, Criminal and Labour Law
Lilly-Tariah, Abbiba Prebo	Lecturer l	Oil and Gas Law, Environmental Law and Administrative Law
Chinuru Achinewhu	Lecturer l	Business/Commercial Law
John Eriaye Thompson	Lecturer l	Property Law, Land Law, Law of Torts and Law of Contract
Gborogbosi Aaloonebari	Lecturer l	Oil and Gas Law, International Political Economy and Development
Emejuru Emenike	Lecturer ll	Environmental Law
Dr. John Uzoma Eke	Lecturer ll	Constitutional Law
Amadi Prince Uche	Lecturer ll
Bob-Manuel Victoria Onengiyeofori	Lecturer ll	Law of Consumer Protection
Elijah Christopher Briggs	Lecturer ll	Commercial Law, Maritime Law and International Economic Law
Dr. Cleverine T. Brown	Lecturer ll	Environmental Law and Sustainability
John Kinikachi Chinda	Lecturer ll	Oil and Gas Law, Energy and Natural Resources Law
Inunkinere Joshua Iragunima	Lecturer ll	Corporate & Commercial Law
Desmond Ozenyeowei Nwoha Agwor	Lecturer ll	Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, International Law and Diplomacy, Environmental/Energy Law and Governance
Esther Inko Abili	Lecturer ll	Aviation Law, Mineral Law, Law of Evidence and Public International Law
Bariyira Simple Kpea-ue	Lecturer ll	Oil and Gas Law, Environmental Law and Human Rights Law
Mr. Goodtime Chimnecherem Okara	Lecturer ll	Company Law, Competition Law and Property Law
Chukwu Princess Adaeze	Lecturer ll	Corporate Law
Itari, Aselemi Melford	Lecturer ll	Energy Law, Oil and Gas Law
Blessing Badubulachi	Lecturer ll	Labour/Industrial Law
Obu, Ibietela Madighi	Lecturer ll	Criminal Law and Human Rights
Nnubia Okemdi Chukwuma	Lecturer ll	Press Media Law and Law of Contract
Ndamenem Ejims Enwukwe	Lecturer ll	Corporate Law, Insolvency Law, Employment Law, Intellectual Property Law, Internet Law and Commercial Law
Nengimote Onu	Lecturer ll	Labour Law
Tamuno Bassy Amiesimaka	Lecturer ll	International Commercial and Maritime Law
Nheoma Eme Worugji	Lecturer ll	Human Rights Law, Child Rights Law, Labour and Industrial Law
Igila Ogorchukwu	Lecturer ll	International Human Rights Law and Environment
Nwokaeze Lauretta Unwobiyeuma	Lecturer ll	Family Law, Property Law, Planning Law
Igwela Franca Princess	Lecturer ll	Maritime Law
Wondikom, Sunday Chiwueze	Lecturer ll	Law of Mortgages and Securities
Wodi Chiyemenum Okechuku	Lecturer ll	Labour Law
Chikadibia Sophia Ahiakwo- Owoyomi	Lecturer ll	Labour and International Law
Samuel Jacob Omubo-Pepple	Assistant Lecturer	Oil and Gas Law, Mineral & Mining Law and Environmental Law
Felicia Lesi Nwibor	Assistant Registrar
Okpara, Douglas Azundah	Admin Officer 11
Hachituru Endurance Ewhorlu	Admin Officer 11
Nnamdi Douglas	Chief Confidential Secretary
Nneka Ekeke	Admin Officer 11
Ezebunwa Mary Ada	Admin Officer 11
Omehia, Gold Ureh	Admin Officer 11
Patrick B.Ereba	Admin Officer 11
Fyneface Franklyn	Higher Executive Officer
Keenam, Theophilus Barilera	Principal Data Processing Officer 11
Moses Menenu Nwideeduh	Higher Executive Officer
Elemelu Ure	Principal Data Processing Officer
Lekia Catherine	Principal Executive Officer
Wike, Promise O	Admin Officer 11
Precious Logbene	Confidential Secretary

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The central duties and responsibility of the Faculty is to ensure that graduates of law from the Faculty have a clear understanding of the place and importance of law in the society. Since all human activities-social, economic, political and so on takes place and are regulated within the legal framework, it is necessary that the student of law should have a broader knowledge and exposure to other discipline in the process of acquiring legal education. It is also intended to act as a stimulus to stir students into critical analysis and examination of the prevailing social, economic and political systems and the relevance of these phenomena in the development of the country. Legal training will also equip the students with the requisite tools to undertake comparative study of various legal systems and principles and deploy the best practices in other jurisdictions to improve and modernize the Nigeria legal system.

The Faculty takes responsibility to ensure that students conduct themselves honourably especially in dressing and attendance. All students in the Faculty are expected to be formally dressed for lectures, seminars and examination. Regulation dress code is the only permitted dressing in the Faculty of Law. The Faculty ensures that students who are not properly dresses are not permitted to enter the lecture halls and participate in lectures.

The Faculty also makes it as a duty to ensure that attendance to all lectures, seminars and examinations are compulsory. Students who are unable to meet up with academic work for health and other reasons may apply to the Dean of Law through their Heads of Department requesting permission to postpone their examinations. The Faculty also, has set up student’s Advisors who double as Counsellors to meet student’s emotional, psychological and academic needs.

STRUCTURE OF THE UNIT

The Faculty started without component Departments since the LL.B program is technically a Faculty one. It was later realized that in order to ease administrative challenges, there was need to have Departments in the Faculty. Accordingly, during the tenure of Mrs. A.E. Ogbuigwe, as Acting Dean, two departments were created in the Faculty in 1991. They were Department of Jurisprudence, Public and International Law, and Department of Commercial, Private & Property Law. Several years later, in 2002, during the tenure of Mr. Nlerum S. Okogbule as Acting Dean, the Faculty was restructured into four Departments in accordance with NUC minimum standards. The Departments are as follows:

Department of Business Law
Department of Jurisprudence and International Law
Department of Private and Property Law
Department of Public Law.

The Current Heads of Department are:

Dr. Chidi Halliday HOD, Business law
Dr. Kingsley N. Akani HOD, Jurisprudence and International Law
Dr. Felix C. Amadi HOD, Private and Property Law
Prof. M.C. Ogwezzy HOD, Public Law

The Faculty also runs a Post Graduate diploma programme as well as Master of Law (LL.M) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme in any area of Law. There is also the Master of Law and Diplomacy Programme (MALD) for those interested in careers leading to diplomatic positions.

PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAMMES

The philosophy of the Faculty remains to promote individual, corporate excellence, creativity and critical thinking. The Faculty of Law is one of the foremost Faculties in the Rivers State University. Students who are admitted into the law programme at the undergraduate level take course across four(4) Departments, domiciled in the Faculty, towards the award of the degree of Bachelor of Laws(LL.B) at the end of the five(5) years or ten(10) semesters. The program is based on a 5 – point grade system as recommended by the National University Commission (NUC). The classes of degree that are awarded are First Class Honours, Second Class Honours (Upper Division), Second Class Honour (Lower Division) and Third Class Honours. The classes of degree are based on the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) earned by the student at the end of five (5) years of ten (10) semesters. Students who successfully complete their program and are awarded the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) of the Rivers State University are eligible for admission to the Nigerian Law School where they undertake a one year course of practical training in accordance with section 5 of the Legal Education (Consolidation, etc) Act Cap L10 LFN 2004. Those who successfully complete the course of practical training in the Nigerian Law School are called to the Nigerian Bar by the Body of Bencher.

In line with the philosophy of the programme emphasises is placed on training and developing graduate sufficiently equipped with knowledge of the law and government institutions, communication and analytical skills, fundamental principles of legal drafting and conveyancing and awareness of the importance of the Nigerian legal system as a whole. Students in the Law Faculty are also exposed to courses from other disciplines.

The objective of the LLB programme offered by the Faculty of Law at the Rivers State University is to produce trained law graduates who can effectively compete with their counterparts from other jurisdictions, graduates who will excel in any area of law they choose to specialize in and graduates who are knowledgeable of the law, who can diagnose legal problems and proffer adequate remedies. The career prospects of the law graduate are enormous.

The Faculty of law is made up of four teaching Departments. They include the following:

1. Department of Business Law: The Department specializes in teaching of courses related to domestic and international business and corporate relations. The courses domiciled in the department at the undergraduate level include; Law of Contract, Industrial Law, Revenue Law, Commercial Law, Banking and Insurance Law, Maritime Law and Company Law. The Department also houses the Journal of Public Law.

2. Department of Jurisprudence and International Law: The Department offers courses which stir the students into critical analysis and evaluation of social, economic and political systems of the society. The courses domiciled in the Department are Legal Methods, Legal System, Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, Public International Law and International Humanitarian Law.

3. Department of Private and Property Law: The courses domiciled in the Department include Law of Torts, Land Law, Equity and Trusts, Family law and Conveyancing.

4. Department of Public Law: The courses domiciled in the Department include Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Law of Evidence, Oil and Gas Law, Environmental Law, Press Law and Mineral Law. The Department also has the journal of public law.

The Faculty also offers postgraduate programme in law for the award of the Masters in Law and Diplomacy (MALD), Master of Laws (LLM) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in law.

OBJECTIVE

The Faculty aim to train and equip its graduates into lawyers armed with requisite skills and knowledge to comfort the challenges of the 21^st century. Consequently, care has been taken to ensure that law is taught as an emerging reality and that our students are comparative in their approach to legal studies, bearing in mind that there are many systems of law in operation including Common Law, Customary Law, Islamic and International Law. The Law programme, therefore, seeks to introduce students of the Faculty to many principles of judicial process, legal analysis and methods. The curriculum is designed to enable the student make a sensible career choice. The central aim of the Faculty is to provide qualitative learning which will aid students develop their full potential as well as enhancing the development of critical manpower for the Nigerian State in the 21^st century and beyond.