Uko Essien Udom, SAN is a prominent Nigerian legal practitioner and politician who currently serves as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Akwa Ibom State.
Early Life and Education
Born on April 11, 1956, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Udom was the son of a University of Ibadan academic. He completed his primary education at Abadina School, Ibadan (1962–1966) and secondary education at the International School, Ibadan, before relocating to Akwa Ibom State for his WASC at Holy Family College, Abak (1972).
- Diploma in Company Administration: College of Technology, Calabar (1977).
- B.A. in Law: Manchester Metropolitan University, England (1982).
- Call to the Bar: Nigerian Law School (1983).
- SAN: Elevated to Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2013.
Legal Career and Private Practice
Udom began his career as a National Youth Service Corps member in Ilorin, Kwara State. In 1984, he and his brother, Essien Essien Udom, SAN, founded the law firm Udom & Udom. The firm, with offices in Lagos, Uyo, and Abuja, specializes in:
- Commercial and civil litigation
- Oil and gas transactions
- Aviation law (Udom serves on the board of Ibom Air)
- Arbitration and energy law
Public Service and Political Appointments
- Constitutional Conference (1994/95): Served under Governor Victor Attah in preparing Akwa Ibom State’s memorandum to the National Constitutional Conference.
- National Conference (2014): Provided legal resources to Niger Delta States delegates.
- Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State: Appointed by Governor Udom Emmanuel in January 2021. He was reappointed by Governor Umo Bassey Eno in February 2025.
- Key Legal Achievements: Played a pivotal role in the defense of Akwa Ibom State in the Onshore/Offshore Dichotomy lawsuit at the Supreme Court and represented oil-producing communities during the Irikefe Panel of Inquiry (1991), which led to the creation of OMPADEC.
Professional Memberships
- Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)
- International Bar Association (IBA)
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK)
- Founding Member, Aviation Education Resources and Information for African Lawyers (AERIAL)