OLU-ADDE CONFERS CHIEFTAINCY TITLE ON OKUTEPA (SAN)
The Olu-Adde of Ekinrin-Adde, Olu Anthony Bamigbaye Idowu, (Ahe Maworo 1) ACA, CON and the Olu-Adde in-Council) will honour Nigerian erudite lawyer and true advocate of Justice, Jubrin Samuel Okutepa (SAN), with the title of the Olumofin of Ekinrin-Adde.
Spokesperson of Ekinrin-Adde Community Development Association, Victor Adewale Adekanye made this known in a state-wide media briefing over the weekend, stating that Okutepa (SAN) was considered for the honorary chieftaincy award because of his charitable nature and for being a good friend of Ekinrin-Adde Community. He stressed that the Senior Advocate’s pedigree as a lawyer, has continued to thrill many.
Born on the 1st day of January 1960 to the family of Chief and Mrs Okutepa Ogaji Attah, from the Aju-Akogu dynasty of Attah Igala Royal family, Mr. Okutepa (SAN) started his primary education at an adult age of over 17 years.
He began in Primary 2 at Benue State Local School Board (BSLSB), primary School, Ogbogbo in Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area, now Kogi State, on the 3rd September, 1977.
He dropped out to become an apprentice motorcycle mechanic.
After struggling to complete his primary education in 1980 by enrolling in primary six where he sat for his primary school Certificate Examination at Takum Local Government Primary School Mararaba, in the then Gongola State, now Taraba State, Mr. Okutepa (SAN) did not attend Secondary School at all.
Between 1980 -1981, He attended Benue State Fire Service Training School, Makurdi after he was recruited as a fire man into the Benue State Fire Service, Makurdi.
In 1982 He sat for GCE O’level as External Candidate in November/December of that year and passed all the five subjects he registered for.
He attended the School of Basic Studies, Makurdi,1985-1987 and then proceeded to the University of Jos, where he studied Law between 1987 and 1990. He was at the Nigerian Law School Victoria Island, Lagos between 1990 and 1991 and was called to the Nigerian Bar on 12th December 1991.
The Kogi State born lawyer co-founded the law firm of Agamah-Okutepa and Company in 1993, with Mr Michael O. Agamah, after his pupilage with the law firms of F.M.E. Nezan and Company and E.A.Haruna and Company all based in Makurdi, Benue State. Agamah-Okutepa and Co were later restructured and named J. S. Okutepa and company, and now J. S. Okutepa (SAN) and company.
He is a committed and dedicated member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) both at the national and branch levels. He held several positions in NBA Makurdi Branch from 1993 to 2008. He was the financial secretary, Publicity Secretary, Secretary and 1st Vice Chairman of NBA Makurdi Branch between 1993 and 2008. He was a member of the General Council of the Bar, Member National Executive Committee of NBA, from 2004 till 2018. He was re-appointed as a member of NEC of NBA in 2023. He is currently a member of the National Executive Council of the NBA.
After several years of distinguished legal practice, he was elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the 7th day of July 2011 and sworn in on 26th August 2011 by the Chief Justice of Nigeria. He was the only legal practitioner from Kogi State that was conferred with the rank of SAN in 2011. Mr J.S.Okutepa SAN was a member of Body of Benchers. He became a member of the Body of Benchers on the 30th of March 2017. He served the Body of Benchers meritoriously from 2017 till 2020. While serving as a member of Body of Benchers, Mr. Okutepa SAN, was found worthy by the Distinguished members of the Body of Benchers to be appointed as a member of the Mentoring Committee of the Body in 2019 for three years.
In March 2023, Mr J.S. Okutepa SAN was again appointed an honorary Member of Body of Bencher by the Honourable Body of Benchers to represent North Central Nigeria for three years.Mr. Okutepa SAN’s practice of law has a profound reputation for his doggedness, depth and demanding qualities. He is an apostle of respect for the code of conduct in the legal profession.
J.S. Okutepa (SAN) is an advocate of purity of justice and believes that judgment rendered without justice, is injustice.
It is as a result of these qualities and the outstanding demonstration of his value for ethical standards that successive Presidents of the Nigerian Bar Association appointed him as the Chief Prosecutor for the NBA at the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC)
Mr. Okutepa SAN is a recipient of various awards of recognition including the NBA presidential award for meritorious service to the Bar. He is a highly respected authority and conference speaker particularly on criminal and civil procedures in Nigeria Courts, Litigation and ethics. He is also a notable analyst and commentator on Legal and National issues and features regularly on invitation by the press. He has written variously on many issues on law and has contributed in many journals, articles and published books which are strong reference materials in the Profession.
At the International Level, Mr Okutepa (SAN) is a member of the following Professional Associations:
International Bar Association (IBA)
American Bar Association (ABA) International section
Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA)
African Bar Association
Pan African Lawyers
UnionInternational Bar Association, African Regional Forum.
Mr. Okutepa (SAN) is well travelled and has visited many Countries across the globe.
His hobbies are: Advocacy, Teaching, Reading, Accepting Challenges, Meeting People, Football, Discussing National and International Issues, Writing and Travelling.
Mr. Okutepa (SAN) is happily married to Mrs. Eleojo Toyin Okutepa and they are blessed with children and grandchildren. Two of their children are lawyers.
