From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
This probably may not be the best of time for Imo State popularly known as the Eastern Heartland as the state have been thrown into another mourning following the confirmation of the death of Hon. Arthur Egwim, the member representing Ideato North in the State House of Assembly by Rt. Hon. Emeka Nduka, the House Speaker.
Unfortunately, this is coming barely 4 days after the death of a mulit millionaire political chieftain and Labour Party Governorship aspirant in the state, Chief Humphrey Anumudu.
Late Arthur Egwim according to Chief Mathew Egwim a closed brother to the deceased died in Lagos on Monday having battled with cancer for sometime now.
He was a ranking member of the Imo House Assembly having been elected in 2015 and reelected in 2019 while pushing for good number of motions in the House.
Mourning the lawmaker, the Speaker, said that the parliament was saddened by the demise of Egwim.
According to him, “God, we, the members of Imo State House of Assembly, wish to announce the death of one of our own, a ranking parliamentarian of note and a strong voice in IMHA, Rt. Hon Barr Innocent Arthur Egwim, who untill his death represented Ideato State Constituency, whose sudden death took place on Monday, the 27th March, 2023 after a brief illness.
“Imo House of Assembly has indeed lost one of its finest and best brains.
His demise will for a long time create a vacuum in the House.
“May his gentle soul rest in peace and may God grant his wife and members of his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. We’ll miss him dearly.
The burial arrangements will be announced by the family in due course” he lamented.
It’s pertinent to recall that Egwim was first elected into the state House of Assembly in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC and was reelected in 2019 on the platform of the Action Alliance, AA.
He contested for the Ideato North/ Ideato South House of representatives election in 2023 under the political platform of APGA but lost to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ugochinyere Imo.
Before his entry into politics, he was a community leader, international businessman and a lawyer.
He was the House Committee Chairman on Finance and Public Accounts. He was also the House Committee Chairman on Chieftaincy Affairs and Autonomous Communities and House Committee Chairman on Judiciary.
Egwim was the President- General of his community, Isiokpo Automous community also Chairman Isiokpo town Union Lagos Branch, Chairman Ekeasomba Age grade Isiokpo, Vice Chairman Alade Residents Association Allen Ikeja, President Awareness club of Nigeria Ibadan Oyo State. Member NBA Ikeja. Vice Chairman African Caribbean dispute resolution association, East London. Patron Isiokpo United Brothers Club Nigeria, Member Dynamic Club of Isiokpo.
The deceased was a holder of chieftaincy titles of EKERIN BASHORUN OF IBADAN and , Jagunmolu of Epe Ijesha, Jagunmolu of Ogba Lagos, Akaraugo of Umuna Imo State, Nze DURU AKUABATA OF ISIOKPO, OWELLE OF OBODOUKWU, and Ide Dim Onwa Gburugburu of Isiokpo. Ideato.
Till death, he was the principal Partner, Innocent Egwim & CO ( Akuabata Chambers) Adeniyi Jones Ikeja- Lagos. Partner, Supreme Solicitors, Kingsland High Road, London.Director, Sabina Hotels Abuja. Director, Akuj Farms, Wakajaiye Ibadan. Director, Arthurm Holdings Limited, Ikeja. Director, Sabina Investment Limited, Oke Bola Ibadan.
His academic qualifications are Ph.D law ( in view) University of Lagos. BL, Nigeria Law School. LLM; University of East London. LLM; University of East London.Diplomain Criminology; University of East London. SSCE; Immaculate Conception Seminary Ahiaeke Umuahia. FLC; Ibeku Central Primary School, Umuahia.
He was polygamous with many children and grandchildren.
