LATE HON. BARRISTER RICHARD WOSU NNWOKA (JP)

LATE HON. BARRISTER RICHARD WOSU NNWOKA (JP)

Ochi Ohna Ikwerre III  (1977 - 1980)

Born July 13, 1929, in Elele into the Royal House of Ogbakiri, Late Hon. Barrister Richard Wosu Nnwoka was a distinguished lawyer and politician. Academically, he attended S.D.A Primary School Elele (1936-1941), Enitonia High School Port Harcourt (1944-1945), and Kalahari National College Buguma (1946-1948) where he obtained the Senior Cambridge Certificate. He proceeded to King's College University of London (1956-1959) graduating with LL.B (Hons), attended the Inns of Court Law School obtaining B.L. in 1959, and was called to Bar at Lincoln's Inn.

Traditionally, he held the title of Ochi Ohna Ikwerre III and served as President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre from 1977 to 1980.

His contributions to Ogbakor Ikwerre and the Ikwerre nation were remarkable. He was elected into the Eastern Nigeria House of Assembly on the platform of N.C.N.C. in 1964, representing Ikwerre North Constituency until 1966, where he fought vigorously for the rights of Ikwerre North. He served as Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association and held numerous public offices including Chairman of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Elele Development and Planning Authority, and West African Glass Industry Limited. His industry and success in the legal profession awakened the consciousness of Elele—today, Elele Town has over 20 lawyers, while the Nnwoka family alone has four lawyers. Many distinguished legal personalities either practiced under him or had their Nigerian Law School attachment with him. He pioneered and founded the Elele Community Bank Ltd and built the imposing Elele Civic Centre. He died on February 20, 1994, after a brief illness.