My involvement in politics robbed me of becoming a SAN – 81-year-old lawyer

Eighty-one-year old lawyer and ex-Chairman, Cooperative and Commerce Bank, Chief Peter Mgbenwelu, shares his life story with GIBSON ACHONU.

Where were you born?

I was born on June 28, 1938. I am from Eziama, Ubulu in the Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State.

How did you know you were born on that date?

My father told me and showed me my birth certificate. I was baptised four days after my birth. This is not a guess work. I said this because my father was a popular teacher. He gave the name, Peter, because June 28 of every year is the Feast Day of SS Peter and Paul, for us who are Christians of the Catholic denomination. This also led to my 80th birthday celebration, which I did last year at my hometown, Ubulu.

How was the celebration?

Apart from my friends, politicians, lawyers and judges among others came to wine and dine with me and my family. Three Eucharistic masses were simultaneously celebrated for me in my residential parish, Holy Cross Catholic Parish, Owerri; my Diocese, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Orlu; and home parish, St. Martin of Tours, Ubulu. They made the event spectacular.

Who were your parents?

My father was Chief Felix Mgbenwelu. He was a humble teacher. He later became the president of Oru Customary Court. Also, my mother, Bridget Mgbenwelu, was a wonderful woman. Both of them were wonderful Christians of the Roman Catholic Order. They were also great disciplinarians.

How was growing up?

I hadn’t any childhood friend. This was because I was moving with my father from one station to another. It was a lowly childhood upbringing.

Which schools did you attend?

Owing to the migratory nature of my father’s work as a village teacher, I attended several primary schools. However, I ended up attending the revered Trinity High School, Oguta (as then rated). After a short while, I left Trinity High School, Oguta.

Where did you work?

I started working as a clerk with the United African Company, popularly called UAC and British Bank of West Africa (now First Bank Plc). After those working experiences, my father sent me to the United Kingdom for further studies.

What did you study in the UK?

I did Advanced Level studies in the UK and got admission into the University College, London, where I obtained a degree in Law. I was subsequently admitted into the Inner Temple. I later came back to Nigeria in 1964 and attended the Nigerian Law School. I was admitted into the Nigerian Bar as a barrister and solicitor of the Nigerian Supreme Court on January 15, 1965.  At that time, lawyers were few in the country. They were highly valued and respected.

What were you doing having been called to the Nigerian Bar and what was your experience?

Since I returned from the United Kingdom and called to the Nigeria bar, I have been on my own as a private legal practitioner. I would have been called to the Inner Bar as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria but for the mischief my entry into politics did to my legal practice.

What was your experience in private legal practice?

There was nothing ennobling during our time at the bar as much as advocacy. I was known as a sound advocate.

When did you retire and what do you do in retirement?

I have not retired. I still enjoy occasional presence in the courts and I have, during my period, mentored many lawyers, some of them are Senior Advocates of Nigeria today. In fact, I remember one lawyer, a Cameroonian, who did attachment in my chambers in 1971 and later became a chief judge in Cameroon. Many other legal luminaries passed through my chambers. Be that as it may, I am still active. I dare anybody to retire me.

How did you meet your wife?

I met my wife while I was in the UK. We got married in London in 1962. Since then, we have lived peacefully together, except during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war when she was away for a short while. Many people thought she would not have stayed with me having come from Jamaica.

To their greatest surprise, today she is still with me peacefully and I love her so much. We are blessed with six children – two boys and four girls. As a matter of fact, I have 18 grandchildren and one great grandson. I am pleased to divulge that all my children are well placed in life. I have a lot to thank God for. I have good health and good friends.

What is your favourite song?

I have many favourite songs. I like listening to classical music particularly Beethoven and Johanstrauss.

What is your favourite food?

I like pounded yam with egusi soup.

What more do you want from life?

I sincerely and immensely thank God for what He has done for me. If He does anything more, I will give Him more thanks and praises.

What were your happiest and saddest moments?

Life is full of challenges. However, I have had many happy moments, but I was very sad the day my mother died. My saddest day was the day my father was buried. It was my saddest day because I looked at my father’s corpse lowered into the grave and halfway, some boys who could not stand before my father when he was alive, fortified the grave by matching the sand on him with feet, without my father talking or rebuking them. It was from that day I came to know that there was nothing in life.

Do you have any regrets?

No, I don’t have. This is because God knows the best.

What is your advice to the younger generation?

They should learn how to forgive one another. They should not bear grudges for more than 24 hours. They should be generous as much as they can and discover themselves earlier. They should be upright in all their dealings in life.

Apart from legal practice, what other offices have you held in life?

Prior to the creation of the Oru West and Oru East council areas, I was the chairman of the old Oru LGA. I was a director in Anambra-Imo River Basin Authority, Owerri; former chairman, Cooperative and Commerce Bank Limited; chairman, Nigeria Coal Cooperative and chairman, Imo State Library Board.

I am also on the Board of Aluminum Extrusion Industries Plc. I contested governorship of Imo State before the creation of Abia and Ebonyi states under the National Republican Convention. I was also the founding state legal adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party.

I was also bestowed with Egbendu 1 of Orlu and secondly, Uduakommiri of Ubulu. They were well-deserved honours and I much value them.

How do you relax?

I relax with my friends, crack jokes and listen to music

Is there any reason why you like hanging your eyeglasses on your nose?

The frame I wear is called half moon. Whenever I bend to read, I use the lens, but when I want to see, I use my eyes. I don’t need to be pushing glasses up and down in order not to lose concentration. However, top lawyers are known to wear glasses like that. It is unfortunate that I have lost all the half moon frames I had. I am at present making order from overseas eye hospitals for that type of frame I am known with.

Culled from Punch