EXECUTIVE BOARD
Barrister Onimim Jacks
Chief Executive Officer
Onimim Jacks was born on December 4, 1961 in Buguma, Rivers State. She obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1983 and a Masters in Law (LL.M) degree in 1991 from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
In 1984, she was called to the Nigerian Bar and in 1987 she become an Attorney and Counselor at Law of the State of New York in the United States of America. Between 1986 and 1987 she was a Volunteer Attorney in the Civil Division of the New York City Legal Aid Society in Chelsea, New York. Onimim’s passion for education led her to take up teaching early in her career; between 1985 and 1986 she lectured at the Faculty of Law, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (now called Rivers State University). In 1998 she became a lecturer at the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, where she taught Criminal Law Procedure, Legal Skills and along with other colleagues developed course content and introduced enhanced teaching methods. She is the Executive Director of the Legal Research Institute, Abuja a legal consulting firm which she established with a group of other legal practitioners. In this capacity, she is responsible for the coordination of research and publishing in different areas of law, training of lawyers in research methods and other legal skills, compilation of laws and judgments for case reporting, collaboration with international agencies in the promotion of legal education and the research and bill drafting consultancies for the Nigeria’s National Legislature. As Chief Legislative Officer in the office of late Senator Martins-Yellowe between 2001 to 2007, Onimim was responsible for preparing bills, perusing and advising the Senator on legislative matters. In 2009, she was appointed Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Library Board with the mandate to revitalize the State’s Library System and oversee all its libraries. It was her last public assignment before her appointment as the Rivers State Commissioner of Agriculture, (2015-2017) where she introduced reforms in modern and technology based agricultural practices. She is a member of the Nigerian Society of International Law, International Law Association, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Nigerian Bar Association, American Bar Association, Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA), International Bar Association and the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law. Mrs Onimim Jacks has published several articles on a wide range of issues and attended many conferences around the world.
With an avid interest in AI Law, Onimim is now a member of The Future Society and attends the annual programs of the Athens Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence and the Rule of Law. This is in addition to taking certificate courses in Laws of Digital Data and Artificial Intelligence. She is currently enrolled for a Post Graduate diploma at the University of Law, London, studying Legal Technology. She is happily married with children, with whom she enjoys traveling, walking and reading.
Executive Secretary
Asso. Prof. Chudi Nelson Ojukwu, is the Execuctive Secretary of LRI. He is a former Deputy Director and Head of Academics at the Nigerian Law School, the Head of the Department of Litigation, and a renowned writer and Constitutional lawyer, holds a PhD in law. He has published articles internationally on the Enforcement of Fundamental Rights in Nigeria. He has participated in several workshops and seminars both locally and internationally. He has also been a resource person for the National Human Rights Commission on several occasions. He has participated in several workshops and fora on anti-corruption both locally and internationally. In recognition of his outstanding scholarship, he was invited by the State Department of the United States of America to participate in a multi-regional project on the U.S.A. judicial system. Ojukwu teaches Civil Procedure and has research interests in criminal justice law. He is the author of several articles and books, including “Introduction to Civil Procedure” – Helen-Roberts 2002, “Practice and Procedure in Election Petitions” – Helen-Roberts 2003. Other publications include; Ojukwu C. N, 1995- “Proceedings In Lieu of Demurer: A Judicial Misunderstanding”1995 Abia State University Law Journal pg. 70-75, Ojukwu C. N, 1996- “Learning Law In a Third World Country- The Nigerian Experience” Academics Forum IBA Newsletter Vol.4, No 1 August, 1996, pg 6, Ojukwu C. N, 1999- “Enforcement Of The Memorandum And Articles Of Association As a Statutory Contract” 1996 Nigerian Current Law Review. (A journal of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies) pg. 159-182, Ojukwu C. N, 2000- “Enforcement of The African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights as a Domestic Law in Nigeria” International Legal Practitioner Vol. 25 No.4 A Journal of the IBA pg.140-143, Ojukwu C. N, 2002- “Attempts Law: The Nigerian Perspective” Criminal Law Forum (Kluwer Academic Publishers), Vol. 13, No. 2, 2002, Pg. 225-244, Ojukwu C. N, 2004- “Arrest and Detention of Ships and Other Property In Nigeria” Tulane Maritime Law Journal Vol. 28 Summer 2004 No. 2, Legal Regime for Effective Regulation of Electricity Utilities- The Nigerian Approach.
Executive Director
Ibiere Akpana, an Oxford trained lawyer, also holds a masters degree in Strategic and Policy Studies. She has worked in the past with several non-governmental organisations and has held very important positions in both the private sector and Government. She is the Chairperson of the Empowerment and Action Research Centre (EMPARC – a research and advocacy group) and editor of Insight (a bi-monthly journal of the organisation). She was a Special Assistant to the Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on International Relations. Her research interests centre on law and social policy and gender issues. She was the Pioneer Executive Secretary/CEO of the Rivers State Social Services Contributory Trust Fund from 2012 to 2017. In that capacity, she provided exemplary services to enable the advancement and well-being of residents in the State.
In her role, Ibiere collaborates with international bodies such as the Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the MacArthur Foundation. Her work focuses on human rights, governance, and justice, reflecting her commitment to societal improvement.
Director, Project Coordination
Chinomnso Onyemaizu is a legal practitioner and a certified chartered Arbitrator with twenty years of professional experience. He has been engaged in and has about ten years of power sector experience in providing legal advisory services to the private and public sector players (including governments) on power on commercial transactions, and infrastructure acquisitions in Public Private Partnerships, more recently and especially in the Nigerian electric power sector reforms.
He has expanded experience in the power sector privatization process and facilitated legal advisory services during the acquisition of power sector infrastructure across the nation. He has since then sustained his professional services to the power sector industry by providing legal and infrastructure advisory services to the successor companies and other private and public sector players. Mr. Onyemaizu has also brought his arbitration and mediation skills to bear in the power sector. He has participated in negotiations for and on behalf of clients in industry and sector-specific agreements. He has also managed dispute resolutions at various levels of contractual relationships between parties, being well guided by the industry and sector legislations and policy regulations. He has also successfully conducted arbitration sessions and litigations for clients on mainly post-privatization issues.
Prior to pursuing his professional career in the power sector, Mr. Onyemaizu has a rounded experience in general legal and commercial transactions management. This aspect of law practice cuts across the provision of company secretarial and custodial services to corporate entities as well as client management. In this stead, he acts as company secretary to several private companies providing secretarial duties and services accordingly. He also represents the corporate entities in meetings, documentations of meetings, ensuring their compliance with legal and statutory requirements for their business objects. He conducts due diligence prior to corporate actions and provides a legal opinion for this purpose.
Mr. Onyemaizu has provided general Legal/infrastructure advisory services to electricity industry players at the pre- and post-privatization of the power sector. He has acquired experience in preparing legal templates, establishing the relationship of NESI players and the general structure and role each player needs to play. He actively participated Review/Negotiation of Sector and industry-specific agreements. He provided legal advisory services to private sector players for the Bid and Sale of NIPP Power Generating Stations and advised on Legal Compliance management for licensed generating companies under the extant law, regulations, and policies. Mr. Onyemaizu is a hands-on transaction analyst in the power sector. He has a law qualifying certificate and a Master’s degree in Law. He was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 2003.
Director, Research and Training
Onyekachi Umah, is a Lawyer, Teacher, Gender and Human Rights Expert, and a Programs Specialist with over 13 years of experience working across Africa. Currently a doctoral candidate, he holds a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). With a prolific portfolio, Onyekachi has published over 820 legal materials, delivered more than 32 public lectures, facilitated numerous training sessions and workshops, and hosted 62 radio and TV legal awareness programs.
Onyekachi has consulted and supported numerous developmental projects in Africa for the U.S Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the UN WOMEN, the UK Department for International Development, Partners Global, and Partners West Africa-Nigeria (PWAN), Open Society Justice Initiative, Action4Justice, Heinrich Böll Foundation, the Human Rights Institute of the National Human Rights Commission and the National Human Rights Commission. He has works on projects focusing on human rights, gender-based violence, Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG), criminal law, access to justice, prison decongestion, and the rule of law in Africa.
He has worked extensively with the UN Women Regional Office in establishing, legalising, and operationalising the Council of Traditional Leaders of Africa (COTLA) in Africa. He has over six (6) years of experience programming and working with COTLA, training Africa’s traditional, cultural, and religious leaders on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and designing databases of traditional leaders, training manuals, operational manuals, by-laws, constitutions, workplans, survey tools, strategies, frameworks, and several reports. He has worked extensively on training, research, and advocacy preventing Gender-Based Violence in Africa; in Nigeria, Zambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Niger Republic. He has worked closely with the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), first-class traditional leaders, village heads, and clan chiefs in Nigeria, Nigeria, Zambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Niger Republic to prevent GBV and enhance community resilience against violence. He also worked on the legalization and operationalization of the African Women Leadership Network (AWLN) in partnership with the African Union.
Onyekachi is a member of the Advisory Committee for Law Clinics Partnership for the Reforming Pre-trial Detention in Kuje Prison Project of USAID, NewRule, Partners Global, and NULAI. His exceptional interpersonal skills, integrity, and professionalism enable him to work effectively within diverse, multicultural teams. He has won several honours and awards for his innovative and outstanding legal practice. On September 11, 2018, Mr. Umah was featured by a national daily, “This Day Newspaper”, as the Legal Personality of the Week. In December 2023, he was ranked number 28 among Nigeria’s Top 100 Lawyers by LMT Academy.