Fidelis Oyakhilome
Encyclopedia
Fidelis Oyakhilome was Governor of Rivers State
, Nigeria
from January 1984 until August 1986 during the military administrations of Generals Muhammadu Buhari
and Ibrahim Babangida
.
.
He joined the Nigerian Police Force in 1959.
He studied Law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University
), Ile-Ife (1965–1968) and then at the Nigerian Law School
, Lagos
(1968–1969), being called to the Nigerian Bar on graduation.
(1975–1977).
He became military governor of Rivers State in January 1984 after the military overthrow of the Nigerian Second Republic
.
On 19 April 1984, Oyakhilome signed the edict establishing the Rivers State School of Basic Studies, later to become the Rivers State College of Arts and Science
in Port Harcourt.
As governor he successfully increased agricultural output in the state.
His "School to Land" program made headline news, but was later abandoned as enthusiasm waned.
He was redeployed on 26 August 1986, replaced by Colonel Anthony Ukpo
.
Oyakhilome was Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) (1988–1991).
He was dismissed after being accused of having a relationship with Jennifer Madike, a Lagos business woman and socialite who had been arrested for drugs-related offences. Prior to her arrest, she had a successful career with her company "Biofrika Ventures" and through real estate, and was a constant subject of the gossip columns.
She was arrested on a charge of collecting US$80,000 from three men, claiming she was going to give the money to Oyakhilome to secure the release of two suspected drug dealers.
The United States later unsuccessfully applied for extradition of one of the dealers on charges of heroin smuggling.
He represented retired police officers at the National Political Reform Conference in 2005.
In 2009 he was Vice-Chairman of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (ARPON).
He was an investor in EBS Nigeria, a previously unknown firm that in June 2006 gained a major contract for supply of anti-retroviral drugs from the Federal Ministry of Health. Other directors included retired military officers Brigadier General Abu Ahmadu and Major General David Jemibewon
.
In 2008, as a consultant to the National Universities Commission (NUC) he gave a list of 33 "universities" that were operating illegally in Nigeria since they had not been licensed by the Federal Government and NUC.
Rivers State
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
from January 1984 until August 1986 during the military administrations of Generals Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections...
and Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
.
Birth and education
Oyakhilome was born on April 13, 1939 in Ewu, Ishan in Edo StateEdo State
Edo State is an inland state in central southern Nigeria. Its capital is Benin City. It is bounded in the north and east by Kogi State, in the south by Delta State and in the west by Ondo State.-History:...
.
He joined the Nigerian Police Force in 1959.
He studied Law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University
Obafemi Awolowo University
Obafemi Awolowo University is a government-owned and -operated Nigerian university. The university is in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria...
), Ile-Ife (1965–1968) and then at the Nigerian Law School
Nigerian Law School
The Nigerian Law School was set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1962 to provide a Nigerian legal education to foreign-trained lawyers, and to provide practical training for aspiring Legal Practitioners in Nigeria....
, Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
(1968–1969), being called to the Nigerian Bar on graduation.
Police career
Oyakhilome became Chief Superintendent of Police, Criminal Investigation Division of the Rivers State Police Command, Port Harcourt (1972–1974). He served in GrenadaGrenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
(1975–1977).
He became military governor of Rivers State in January 1984 after the military overthrow of the Nigerian Second Republic
Nigerian Second Republic
The Second Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 governed by the second republican constitution.- Founding :...
.
On 19 April 1984, Oyakhilome signed the edict establishing the Rivers State School of Basic Studies, later to become the Rivers State College of Arts and Science
Rivers State College of Arts and Science
The Rivers State College of Arts and Science is a polytechnic funded by the Rivers State government, located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.-History:...
in Port Harcourt.
As governor he successfully increased agricultural output in the state.
His "School to Land" program made headline news, but was later abandoned as enthusiasm waned.
He was redeployed on 26 August 1986, replaced by Colonel Anthony Ukpo
Anthony Ukpo
Stephen Anthony Ukpo was Minister of Information and Culture, and then Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria from August 1986 until July 1988 during the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.-Military career:...
.
Oyakhilome was Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is a Federal agency in Nigeria charged with eliminating the growing, processing, manufacturing, selling, exporting, and trafficking of hard drugs. The agency was established by Decree Number 48 of January l990. The NDLEA is present in international...
(NDLEA) (1988–1991).
He was dismissed after being accused of having a relationship with Jennifer Madike, a Lagos business woman and socialite who had been arrested for drugs-related offences. Prior to her arrest, she had a successful career with her company "Biofrika Ventures" and through real estate, and was a constant subject of the gossip columns.
She was arrested on a charge of collecting US$80,000 from three men, claiming she was going to give the money to Oyakhilome to secure the release of two suspected drug dealers.
The United States later unsuccessfully applied for extradition of one of the dealers on charges of heroin smuggling.
Later career
After leaving the NDLEA, Oyakhilome became head of his own private law firm.He represented retired police officers at the National Political Reform Conference in 2005.
In 2009 he was Vice-Chairman of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (ARPON).
He was an investor in EBS Nigeria, a previously unknown firm that in June 2006 gained a major contract for supply of anti-retroviral drugs from the Federal Ministry of Health. Other directors included retired military officers Brigadier General Abu Ahmadu and Major General David Jemibewon
David Jemibewon
Major General David Medayese Jemibewon is a Nigerian military officer who was appointed governor of Western State from August 1975 until March 1976 during the military regime of General Murtala Muhammed....
.
In 2008, as a consultant to the National Universities Commission (NUC) he gave a list of 33 "universities" that were operating illegally in Nigeria since they had not been licensed by the Federal Government and NUC.