– Born on 7th June, 1970, Barrister Pius Ukeyima Akutah is the Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
– He was appointed to the headship of the Council on 25th October, 2023, and assumed duties at its Lagos Headquarters on 1st November, 2023.
– He came to the job as Assistant Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja and Head of the Central Authority Unit of the International Cooperation Department, Office of The Honourable The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice..
– His Academic Qualifications are briefly as follows:
* Ph.D (International Cooperation in Criminal Matters) Nassarawa State University, Keffi – 2020 (In view)
* Master of Laws (LL.M) (Public International law), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria – 2016
* Barrister at Law (BL) The Nigeria Law School Bwari, Abuja – May 8, 2007
* Bachelor of Laws (LLB) University of Abuja Gwagwalada, Abuja – February 23, 2006
– He is an Alumnus and Affiliate of a number of professional bodies, among which are the following selected few::
* Alumnus – US Department of States’ International Visitor’s Leadership Programme (IVLP), Washington DC, Salt – Lake City and Atlanta Georgia
U.S.A, 2012
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* Alumnus – US International Law Enforcement Academy, Rosewell, New Mexico, United State, 2018
* Member – Nigeria Bar Association, NBA
– He bears, among many, the following international badges & coins of distinction:
* Finland Police Badge
* FBI Atlanta-Georgia Regional Office Coin of Excellence
* US Department of States’ Diplomatic Security Service Coin
– He discharged with acclaim and distinction numerous national assignments, including the following selected few:
* Member – Draft Committee (extensively worked on the draft) Nigerian Electricity Health and Safety Code, in 2012 which was later considered by the entire committee, approved and issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Abuja
* The Nigerian Focal Point to the UNODC network of Contact Persons and Ministers of Justice for the Sahel and Maghreb Region on Criminal Justice Cooperation in Counter Terrorism
* Nigerian Focal Point for West African Central Authorities and Prosecutors Network (WACAP)
– He contributed to the development of international legal cooperation between Nigeria and the international community in the following respects, among several others:
* Represented the Nigerian Federal Government in several high profile and sensitive criminal cases
* Handled the preparation, vetting and negotiation of Bilateral Agreements between Nigeria and other Countries on Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition
* Recorded the Locus Classicus case on extradition at the Supreme Court in 2022
– In the course of continually training and career enhancement/ upgrade, he attended several courses, both at home and abroad, among which are:
• Abroad:
* Prosecutor Led Investigation and the Information Gathering and Sharing within the Criminal Justice System, U.S.A, 2019
* Eleventh Plenary Meeting of The West African Network of Central Authorities and Prosecutors (WACAP) on Maritime Security and Judicial Integrity, Togo, 15-18 November 2022
• Home:
* Training on Criminal Justice Reform organised by the Nigerian Bar Association and the Institute of Advanced Legal studies as Mandatory Continued Legal Education Programme, Abuja, 2011
* Workshop on Electronic Evidence organised by the Computer Forensics Institute, Nigeria and Digital and Computer Forensics Associates, Abuja, 2012
* Training Workshop on International Cooperation in Criminal Matters related to Terrorism, organised by the UNODC, EU and CTED to strengthen Criminal Justice Responses for a multidimensional security, Abuja, January, 2015
– He participated at high profile conferences, both at home and abroad, as session chair and resource person, a select few among which include:
• Abroad:
* Session Chair – Panel of international Cooperation Experts Discussion on the Legal Frameworks Towards a Regional Cooperation Through Mutual Legal Assistance in the Fight Against Trans-national Organised Crimes at the Regional Workshop of experts on Mutual Legal Assistance, Accra- Ghana, November, 2011
* Report of the Eighteenth Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) held at Hague, Netherland. from 2nd – 7th December, 2019
• Home:
* Paper Presented – The Effect of Inter-Agency Cooperation on the Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime- Co-presented with Ms Trish Gibbs, Head, FBI Legal, United States Embassy, Abuja at a Refresher Training Workshop Organized by the US Embassy for Senior Law Enforcement officers held on December 4, 2013 at the EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja
* Paper Presented – Extradition Laws and Processes in Nigeria – at a UNODC Training Program for Judges of the Federal High Court – at Denis Hotel, Abuja Nigeria, April, 201
– He is a recipient of numerous merit awards, a select few among which are:
* National Honours Award: Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) – Presented by H.E Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2023
* Presidential Civil Service Merit Award (PCSMA): For Excellent Public Service – Presented by H.E Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2017
* Presidential Merit Award of Excellent Service – For Contributions in the Drafting and Presentation of the African Charter for Maritime Safety and Security, Adopted by the Heads of Governments of the African Union in Lome, Togo, 2018, presented by H.E Faure Gnassingbé, President, the Republic of Togo
– His personal skills garnered over the course of his career service include:
* Drafting * Negotiating * Legal Advocacy * Alternative Dispute/ Conflict Resolution * Sound grounding in Computer Literacy and Information Technology.
– His interests and hobbies include:
* Swimming * Reading * Making friends * Travelling, which he has undertaken extensively having travelled to the United States of America, United Kingdom, Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, India, Austria, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Kenya, Italy, Netherland, France, Columbia, Niger, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin Republic, Turkey, Singapore and Cape -Verde etc.
– Barrister Pius Ukeyima Akutah hails from Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State in the North Central Geo-Political Region of Nigeria
– He is Married, with Children.
