By Ozioma Dibie
Friends, family and associates have rained encomiums on legal luminary, Dr. Valerie Azinge, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Some of them described her as “an amazing amazon, a dedicated wife and mother. Quintessential lawyer, senior advocate of Nigeria and an ebullient, fun loving and hospitable personality.”
Her husband, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, was not left out as he showered praises on his wife.
According to the eminent legal icon, “My wife is a special woman made in heaven for me. I wish her heaven’s best and I promise to continue to shower her with love.”
Member representing Aniocha/Oshimili constituency in the House of Representatives and Minority leader of the house, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu was also among those who eulogized the lawyer.
Extolling her vitues, Elumelu said: “God your gorgeous and wonderful daughter Mrs. Valerie Azinge, our aunty, stabiliser, a giver and protector is marking yet another year to the life you gave her today. God we thank you for her life on earth. Baba we plead mercy and grace upon her life.
“I pray that God you will grant her long life on earth. Enemies will never see her, her children will continually prosper, her home and community will continue to recognise her, she will continually mother her home with wisdom and above all grant her good health with peace of mind. I wish this our great virtuous woman and mother a joyful and wonderful birthday”.
A graduate of the University of Jos, she was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1981. Dr. Azinge has an LL.M. from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and took her Ph.D in law from the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma in 1990.
She is a former Commissioner and member of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and was the first Special Rapporteur on Summary, Arbitrary and Extrajudicial Executions in Nigeria.