Festus Keyamo
Festus Keyamo | |
|---|---|
 Keyamo in October 2020 | |
| Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development | |
| Assumed office 21 August 2023 | |
| President | Bola Tinubu |
| Preceded by | Hadi Sirika |
| Minister of State for Labour and Employment | |
| In office 24 September 2019 – 29 May 2023 | |
| President | Muhammadu Buhari |
| Minister | Chris Ngige |
| Preceded by | Stephen Ocheni |
| Succeeded by | Nkiruka Onyejeocha |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Festus Egwarewa Keyamo 21 January 1970 Ughelli, Mid-Western Region (now Delta State), Nigeria |
| Citizenship | Nigeria |
| Political party | All Progressives Congress |
| Parents |
|
| Occupation |
|
| Known for | Human rights activism |
Festus Egwarewa Keyamo (born 21 January 1970) SAN FCIArb is a Nigerian lawyer, columnist and human rights activist who serves as the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development of Nigeria.[1][2] In April 2018, Keyamo was appointed as the director of Strategic Communications of the 2019 re-election bid of President Buhari[3]and later appointed minister of State for Labour and Employment.[4][5]
Early life
[edit]He was born on 21 January 1970, at Ughelli, a town in Delta State, Southern Nigeria but his father hails from Effurun, a city in Delta.[6] Keyamo had his primary education at Model Primary School and secondary education at Government College, Ughelli, where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1986.[7] He later proceeded to Ambrose Alli University at Ekpoma, in Edo State southern Nigeria where he received a Bachelor of Law degree in 1992 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in December 1993.[8][9]
Legal career
[edit]He began his legal career in 1993 at Gani Fawehinmi's Chambers in Lagos State,[10] southwestern Nigeria.
After he spent two years at Gani Fawehinmi's chambers, he left to establish Festus Keyamo Chambers.[11]
He was counsel to the leader of the Niger-Delta Peoples' Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari in his trial for treasonable felony and lead counsel in the treason trial of Ralph Uwazuruike, the leader of the Movement For The Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).[12]
Keyamo was also a counsel in the murder of Bola Ige.[13][14][15]
In 2008, he took the Federal Government of Nigeria to court over illegal appointments of service chiefs.[16][17]
In 2017, Stephanie Otobo, a Canadian-based singer and stripper, accused Apostle Suleman Johnson, through her lawyer Festus Keyamo, of failing to keep a marriage promise made to her after allegedly having several sexual relationships with her.[18][19][20]
Political appointments
[edit]Festus was among the nominated ministers of the second administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.[21]
After his nomination, he was equally screened by the senate.[22] Until 24 September 2019, Keyamo was appointed Nigeria's Minister of State, for Niger Delta, before he was redeployed to Ministry of Labour and Employment[23] by President Muhammadu Buhari barely a month after his initial appointment on 21 August 2019.[24] Following several calls from some political commentators as to why he didn't make both the first and second ministerial lists, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu forwarded Keyamo's name to the Senate on 4 August 2023 as a ministerial nominee for confirmation.[25]
He was made minister of aviation and aerospace development by president Bola Tinubu on 16 August 2023[26]
Awards and recognitions
[edit]Keyamo was named by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), Nigeria in July 2017 as one of the outstanding Nigerian lawyers to be awarded the rank of SAN. Festus is now in Muhammadu Buhari's cabinet. Keyamo and others named on the 2017 SAN-list were inaugurated into the elevated league of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2017.[27] In 2017, Keyamo was also awarded the Global Human Rights Award by the United States Global Leadership Council in Washington for his efforts over the years in respect of protection and promotion of human rights and campaigning for accountable governments in Nigeria.[28] The former president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari awarded Festus Keyamo and 338 others in the 2023 of the national award.[29][30]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Abimboye, Micheal (24 January 2015). "Interview: President Jonathan is a joke - Festus Keyamo". Premium Times. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ Keyamo, Festus (18 January 2015). "Keyamo Explodes: Between Jonathan Versus Buhari - Here Is A President Who Destroyed PDP And Almost Destroyed Nigeria". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ "Keyamo appointed spokesman for Buhari's 2019 campaign". Vanguard. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ Anyanwu, Samuel (21 May 2024). "Festus Keyamo meets counterparts from State of Qatar and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Ongoing Future Aviation Forum (FAF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia". Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ Yusuff, Sodiq (7 February 2024). "The Insider: Keyamo under pressure from fellow Buhari's ex-ministers over aviation sector probe". TheCable. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ ""I'm Not Afraid to Die"". The Source. Vol. 26, no. 16. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- ^ "Festus Keyamo: Dad disgraced me for inviting girls to our house". The Sun. 6 September 2014. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "DELTA 2015: BETWEEN FESTUS KEYAMO AND OTHER CONTESTANTS". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ "Fof the Record: Official citations of Buhari's ministers, SGF". Premium Times. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ Ochayi, Chris (21 August 2019). "Meet Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs". Vanguard. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "[General] Re-Your Troubling Silence-Festus Keyamo Responds - Page 3". Village Square Forum. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ "Festus Egwarewa Adeniyi Keyamo". Africa Confidential. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Keyamo: Omisore Should Seek God's Forgiveness over Ige Murder Case". This Day. 16 February 2014. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ "Who killed Uncle Bola Ige?". The Punch. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ "Who will call Keyamo to order?". Daily Trust. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ "Court Declares Appointment Of Service Chiefs Illegal". News Diary. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ Akinkuotu, Eniola. "Jonathan is promoting corruption —Keyamo". The Punch. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ Ezeamalu, Ben (11 March 2017). "Sex Scandal: Apostle Suleiman, Keyamo in war of words over Stephanie Otobo". Premium Times. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ Opejobi, Seun (11 March 2017). "Apostle Johnson Suleman's manhood is average size but he is very good in bed - Stephanie Otobo alleges". Daily Post. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ Godwin, Ameh Comrade (10 March 2017). "Apostle Johnson Suleman exposed his private part to Stephanie on Skype - Festus Keyamo alleges". Daily Post. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Buhari New Ministers List 2019". Daily News. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
- ^ Aborisade, Sunday. "Ministerial screening: Drama as Melaye tells Keyamo to recite national anthem". The Punch. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Breaking: Buhari redeploys Festus Keyamo, Alasoadura to labour, Niger Delta". Fellow Press. 24 September 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ Ayitogo, Nasir (21 August 2019). "Buhari assigns portfolios to new ministers". Premium Times. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ Ogundapo, Abdulqudus (4 August 2023). "Tinubu nominates Keyamo as minister, withdraws Kano nominee". Premium Times. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ Tolu-Kolawole, Deborah (16 August 2023). "Full list of ministers and designations". The Punch. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ "Committee Announces Keyamo, 29 Others Senior Advocates of Nigeria". P.M. News. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ Akinwale, Funsho (16 December 2016). "Festus Keyamo gets human rights award in US". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Buhari Confers Special National Honours on 340 Nigerians, Bestows GCON on Anyaoku". This Day. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- ^ "Buhari Confers National Honours On Anyaoku, Akande, Emefiele, Keyamo, Osoba, Others". Daily Champion. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.