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Demise Of A Legend: Emmanuel C Aguma (SAN)
Last Friday, the Rivers State Government broke the sad news of the death of the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN.
In an emotion-laden statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barrister Emma Okah, the state government said, “It is with very deep pain but gratitude to the Almighty God that the Rivers State Government wishes to announce the demise of the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, today, Friday 10th August, 2018 in a London hospital.
Until his death, Emmanuel Chiwenwo Aguma, SAN served the State with amazing sense of responsibility, commitment, passion, competence and courage. At all times, even in his sick bed, his exemplary zeal to serve Rivers State never waned.
Consequently, the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Chief Nyesom Wike, directed that flags fly at half-mast for two days, beginning from last Saturday as a mark of honour to mourn the departed legend.
“Needless to say that Rivers State and indeed the nation will miss his versatility and invaluable contributions to the development of our state and Nigeria, this loss is monumental but we urge all people of goodwill to remember his wife, children, mother and the entire Late Chief Emmanuel W. Aguma’s family of Port Harcourt as well as the State in prayers”, the government said.
Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN, was a Rivers State lawyer and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) politician.
He was, until his demise, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state.
Between 2000 and 2002, Aguma worked as Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, and also chaired the Bar from 2006 to 2008.
On 10 July, 2015, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee conferred the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on him alongside 20 others, and were sworn in on 21 September, 2015.
Lamenting the death of the legal luminary, Chief Nyesom Wike stated that the late Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) gave his best to the state, serving it with unparalleled commitment and loyalty.
Speaking during a condolence visit by the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Saturday, Wike said: “Aguma believed in everything we are doing in the state. He gave his all. He gave his best.
“I could call on him at anytime. He delivered on his assignments without excuses”.
Wike said that the late Attorney General showed intelligence, commitment and loyalty in his service to the state.
“His passage is most unfortunate. God gives and God takes. He was one of the closest to me on the cabinet. He died at a most critical time.
“You can have people who are intelligent, but are they loyal and committed? He had a combination of all. It is difficult to find a replacement for him. This is a loss for the cabinet and the entire state”, he said.
Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja said that the traditional rulers received the news of the death of the Attorney General of Rivers State with shock.
He said that his death is a loss of monumental proportions.
Jaja said after visiting the family, the traditional rulers resolved to visit the Rivers State Governor.
Other prominent indigenes of the state have been expressing their condolences via the condolence register at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
In her condolence message, the House of Representatives member for Abua-Odual-Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Hon. Betty Apiafi described the demise of the late Attorney General as “a difficult goodbye”, noting that God knows why it happened.
Another House of Representatives member representing Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency, Hon. Jerome Eke, said the news of the death of the late Attorney General, Hon. Emmanuel Aguma was unbelievable.
“He was one of my major friends and brothers. I can’t believe this story”, he wrote.
The Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Marshall Stanley Uwom said he was perplexed, pained and in deep grief because of the death of the Attorney General of Rivers State.
“I am perplexed, pained and in deep grief. Your eloquent banters will continually play in my head. In all things, we shall give glory to God because you stood as a colossus and bestrode the legal landscape like a giant you truly are”, Uwom wrote.
In his condolence message , the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martins Amaewhule noted with shock the death of the late Attorney General.
“It is really shocking, how can one believe that this kind of thing would be happening now? May your gentle soul rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he stated.
Also, the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disrael Gobo Bob Manuel stated that with the death of late Emmanuel Aguma, the Lord has called him for higher duties.
However, following the sad passage of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), flags at the Government House, Port Harcourt and other government offices flew at half-mast last Saturday.
On Friday, Wike, who received the news of the death of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) with shock and sadness, led some leaders of the state and members of the State Executive Council on a condolence visit to the Aguma Family House in Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt.
After commiserating with the Aguma family, Wike ordered that flags fly at half-mast for two days.
A condolence register has been opened in honour of the late Attorney General of Rivers State at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Prominent leaders of Rivers State and members of the State Executive Council have been expressing their condolences via the condolence register.
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani said that the sudden death of the Attorney General of Rivers State is a loss to humanity.
He wrote: “Yet again, the human landscape has been desecrated and further reduced by the sudden and unplanned departure of the Rivers State Attorney-General.
You will forever be remembered.
President Bola Tinubu yesterday celebrated the Nigerian Exchange Group’s breakthrough into the N100tn market capitalisation threshold, saying Nigeria has moved from an ignored frontier market to a compelling investment destination.
Tinubu, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, urged Nigerians to increase their investments in the domestic economy, expressing confidence that 2026 would deliver stronger returns as ongoing reforms take firmer root.
He noted that the NGX closed 2025 with a 51.19 per cent return, outperforming global indices such as the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, as well as several BRICS+ emerging markets, after recording 37.65 per cent in 2024.
“With the Nigerian Exchange crossing the historic N100tn market capitalisation mark, the country is witnessing the birth of a new economic reality and rejuvenation,” Tinubu said.
He attributed the stellar performance to Nigerian companies proving they can deliver strong investment returns across all sectors, from blue-chip industrials localising supply chains to banks demonstrating technological innovation.
The President added, “Year-to-date returns have significantly outpaced the S&P 500, the FTSE 100, and even many of our emerging-market peers in the BRICS+ group. Nigeria is no longer a frontier market to be ignored—it is now a compelling destination where value is being discovered.”
Tinubu disclosed that more indigenous energy firms, technology companies, telecoms operators and infrastructure firms are preparing to list on the exchange, a move he said would deepen market capitalisation and broaden economic participation.
He also cited what he described as a sustained decline in inflation over eight months—from 34.8 per cent in December 2024 to 14.45 per cent in November 2025—projecting that the rate would fall below 10 per cent before the end of 2026.
“Indeed, inflation is likely to fall below 10 per cent before the end of this year, leading to improved living standards and accelerated GDP growth. The year 2026 promises to be an epochal year for delivering prosperity to all Nigerians,” he said.
The President attributed the trend to monetary tightening, elimination of Ways and Means financing, and agricultural investments, which he said helped stabilise the naira and ease post-reform pressures.
Nigeria’s current account surplus reached $16bn in 2024, with the Central Bank projecting $18.81bn in 2026, reflecting a trade pattern shift toward exporting more and importing less locally-producible goods.
Non-oil exports jumped 48 per cent to N9.2tn by the third quarter of 2025, with African exports nearly doubling to N4.9tn. Manufacturing exports grew 67 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter.
Foreign reserves have crossed $45bn and are expected to breach $50 billion in the first quarter, giving the CBN ammunition to maintain currency stability and end the volatility that previously fuelled speculation, according to the President.
Tinubu also highlighted infrastructure expansion in rail networks, arterial roads, port revitalisation, and the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways, alongside improvements in healthcare facilities that are reducing medical tourism costs, and increased university research grants funded through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.
“Our medicare facilities are improving, and medical tourism costs are declining. Our students benefit from the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, and universities are receiving increased research grants,” he said.
He described nation-building as a process requiring hard work, sacrifices, and citizen focus, pledging to continue working to build an egalitarian, transparent, and high-growth economy catalysed by historic tax and fiscal reforms that came into full implementation from January 1.
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RSG Kicks Off Armed Forces Remembrance Day ‘Morrow …Restates Commitment Towards Veterans’ Welfare
The Rivers State Government has reiterated its commitment towards the welfare of veterans, serving officers and widows of fallen officers in the State.
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?The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, in a statement by ?Head, Information and Public Relations Unit, SSG’s ?Office, ?Juliana Masi, stated this during the Central Planning meeting of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
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?Anabraba thanked the Committee for their contributions to the success of the Emblem Appeal Fund Ceremony recently held in the State and called on them to double their efforts so that the State can record resounding success in the remaining activities.
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?According to him, the remembrance day events will begin with Jumaàt Prayers on Friday, 9th January at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt Township, while a Humanitarian Outreach/Family and Community Day will be hosted on Saturday, 10th January, by the wife of the governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, for widows and veterans.
?”On Sunday, 11th January, an Interdenominational Church Thanksgiving Service will hold at St. Cyprian Anglican Church, Port Harcourt Township while the Grand-finale Wreath- Laying Ceremony will hold on Thursday, 15th January at the Isaac Boro Park Cenotaph, Port Harcourt”, he said.
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?The SSG noted that one of the highlights of the events is the laying of wreaths by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Heads of the Security Agencies.
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The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle in the State Executive Council.
Under the new disposition, Barrister Christopher Green, who until now served as Commissioner for Sports, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Justice as the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
This is contained in an official statement signed by Dr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications.
According to the statement, Barrister Green will also continue to coordinate the activities of the Ministry of Sports pending the appointment of a substantive Commissioner to oversee the ministry.
The redeployment, which takes immediate effect, was approved at the last State Executive Council meeting for the year 2025, underscoring the Governor’s commitment to strengthening governance, ensuring continuity in service delivery, and optimising the performance of key ministries within the state.