To paraphrase William Shakespeare, the foremost English playwright, some people are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.
Monday Onyekachi Ubani can be located in this truism. From his rural Ikwuano community in Abia state, Nigeria, he virtually pulled himself up by the bootstraps into national consciousness.
He graduated in 1989 with a Second Class Upper Division in Law and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, where he distinguished himself once again by graduating with another Second Class Upper Division in 1990—the only graduate from the University of Nigeria’s 1989 Law Class to achieve that distinction at the Law School.
However, the irrepressible Ubani was never done. After acquiring a degree in law from the University of Nigeria, (UNN), the energetic Ubani obtained his masters degree in law from the University of Lagos. Despite the challenging life of a family man in Nigeria and the loss of both parents during his pursuit of a doctorate degree, he became the best graduating Phd. student in law from Babcock University, Nigeria.
By dint of hard work and, of course, God’s grace, he is today a legal giant that can not be ignored.
Moving from one court to the other over the years to defend the interests of his clients, Ubani has catapulted himself into an astute advocate of good governance, human rights defender, and public policy analyst.
From one prime television station to another, the former former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch and former Second Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has become a much sought-after resource person on legal, political, and human rights issues.
A prolific writer and orator, Ubani’s brilliant dissection within hours of landmark and sometimes controversial court judgments in recent times has made him a delight both in the legal profession where he is now seen as an erudite scholar and among ordinary Nigerians where he has now rightly assumed the status of a credible and indefatigable public intellectual.
In conclusion, Ubani is a typical example of an ebullient intellectual who uses his personal magnetism to enhance his interpersonal skills.
As he turns another year today, Monday 27, 2026, we can only wish the National Legal Adviser of the Assemblies of God Church in Nigeria many happy returns and God blessings in his service of his people in Abia state and in Nigeria.
