Bolaji Olufunmileyi Owasanoye is a Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, an anticorruption agency in Nigeria.[1][2]

Bolaji Owasanoye
Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC
Assumed office
January 2018
PresidentMuhammadu Buhari
Preceded byEkpo Nta
Personal details
NationalityNigerian
Alma materUniversity of Ife
University of Lagos
OccupationLawyer
human rights activist
AwardsUniversity of Lagos Scholarship Award (1986/1987), UN Institute for Training and Research Fellowship Award (1991, 1994), US Information Service International Visitors Award (1991), British Council Fellowship Award (1992), Senior Special Fellowship, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (2001).

Early life and education

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Owasanoye was born in 1963. He graduated from University of Ife in 1984 with a degree in law and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985. He also obtained a master's degree in Law in 1987 from the University of Lagos.[1]

Career

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Owasanoye started his career as an assistant lecturer at the University of Lagos. He moved to the National Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) in 1991 and became a Professor of law 10 years later.[1]

In August 2015, he was appointed as the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) before being appointed to the ICPC. He was a proponent of the Proceeds of Crime bill, Whistle-blower and Witness Protection Bill passed by the Nigerian National Assembly.[2]

He has also worked as a consultant for Nigerian federal and state agencies as well as international agencies such as the World Bank and USAID.[3]

In 1997, he co-founded the Human Development Initiative (HDI), a non-profit organisation.[1] In 2020, he was awarded the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).[4]

Publications

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  • The regulation of child custody and access in Nigeria[5]
  • Fearing the dark: The use of witchcraft to control human trafficking victims and sustain vulnerability[6]
  • Improving Case Management Coordination Amongst the Police, Prosecution and Court
  • NIALS Laws of Nigeria: Evidence Act 2011[7]
  • NIALS Laws of Nigeria: Electoral Act[8]
  • Information and communication technologies (ICT), freedom of information and privacy rights in Nigeria: an assessment[9]

Awards and recognition

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  • University of Lagos Scholarship Award (1986/1987)[1]
  • UN Institute for Training and Research Fellowship Award (1991, 1994)[1]
  • US Information Service International Visitors Award (1991)[1]
  • British Council Fellowship Award (1992)[1]
  • Senior Special Fellowship, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (2001)[1]
  • Officer of the Federal Republic OFR (2002)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Obiejesi, Kingsley (2 August 2017). "Graduate at 21, master's holder at 24, professor at 38... meet Owasanoye, the new ICPC chairman". International Centre for Investigative Reporting. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b Lawal, Nurudeen (21 December 2018). "9 facts about the new ICPC chairman Owasanoye". legit.ng. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  3. ^ Owete, Festus (3 August 2017). "PROFILE: Bolaji Owasanoye: The new man to lead Nigeria's second major anti-graft agency | Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  4. ^ Ikhilae, Eric (14 November 2020). "ICPC chair Owasanoye, 71 others now senior advocates | The Nation". The Nation (Nigeria). Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  5. ^ OWASANOYE, BOLAJI (2005). "The Regulation of Child Custody and Access in Nigeria". Family Law Quarterly. 39 (2): 405–428. ISSN 0014-729X. JSTOR 25740497.
  6. ^ Nagle, Luz E.; Owasanoye, Bolaji (2015–2016). "Fearing the Dark: The Use of Witchcraft to Control Human Trafficking Victims and Sustain Vulnerability". Southwestern Law Review. 45: 561.
  7. ^ Bolaji, Owasanoye (19 July 2014). NIALS Laws of Nigeria: Evidence Act 2011. Safari Books Ltd. ISBN 978-978-8431-63-3.
  8. ^ Bolaji, Owasanoye (19 July 2014). NIALS Laws of Nigeria: Electoral Act. Safari Books Ltd. ISBN 978-978-8407-59-1.
  9. ^ Bolaji, Owasanoye; Centre, Makerere University, Human Rights and Peace; Olayinka, Akanle (2009). "Information and communication technologies (ICT), freedom of information and privacy rights in Nigeria : an assessment". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)