For some time to come, 30th December 2021 will remain memorable in the ancient community of Ezeagu Igbudu in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State. Indeed it was all merriment and jollity as HRH Igwe/Engr. Kenmoore Chiaha, Eze Olo 1 of Olo, Igwe of Imezi -Olo conferred a rare chieftaincy title on Barr. Peter Chinedu Ozoagu an Abuja-based legal practitioner.
Ozoagu a retired Army Captain bagged the title Dike Dioha Mma 1 Na Ezeagu Igbudu (The warrior who is loved by all). He retired voluntarily from the Nigeria Army in 2010 after 25 years of meritorious services to the country.
During this period, he served in various capacities in the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police and Directorate of Legal Services, Nigerian Army. Ozoagu equally featured in many Military Courts-Martial as Prosecutor, Defence Counsel, and Judge Advocate respectively.
Born at Amankwo Oghe in Ezeagu Local Government Area, Enugu State Nigeria into the family of Mazi Umuzuruike Ozoagu (Oji Egbe Aza Oku Na Umueshim) and Madam Tessy Ozoagu (Ada –Eze 1, Amankwo Oghe, Peter Ozoagu had his early education at Community Primary School, Amankwo Imezi Oghe and St. Teresa’s College Nsukka respectively.
He obtained a National Diploma with an Upper Credit in Secretarial Studies from the Nigerian Army School of Finance & Administration, Apapa, Lagos, and was a recipient of two Academic Awards of Excellence in 1992.
Chief Ozoagu is Principal Partner, PC Ozoagu & Co, a firm of Legal Practitioners, Arbitrators, Notary Public & Consultants based in Abuja with affiliate offices in Lagos and Enugu. He had worked briefly with the Law Firms of B.O. Olusola & Co in Lagos and C.A.C Uzoegwu & Co Abuja before establishing his own.
A 1999 law graduate from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2001. Thereafter, he obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree from the prestigious University of Lagos. A Member of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Society of International Law (NSIL), Associate Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria (ACI.Arb), and Member, International Society for Military Law and Laws of War, he became a Notary Public in November 2013.
Chief Peter Ozoagu is Secretary/Legal Adviser to the Governing Council, European African Management School, Lagos, and Legal Adviser to Raberto Schools Ltd, Abuja. In addition, he is both an External Solicitor and a board member of many blue-chip companies.
Some of the many Military and Civil appointments held by the retired Army Captain include:
Military Assistant to the Chief Legal Adviser (Army) in 2010. Military Assistant to the Provost Marshal (Army) in 2019. Officer Commanding – 34 Brigade Provost Company in 2008. Second-in-Command, Alpha Company and Legal Officer, Eleventh Nigerian Battalion,(NIBATT 11)African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) in 2007. Officer Commanding – 22 Brigade Provost Company Sobi Cantonment in 2006. Member, Editorial Board, Juris Catolica, a Publication of National Association of Catholic Lawyers, Abuja.
Also, he is Editor-in-Chief – Eleventh Nigerian Battalion in the African Union Mission in Sudan (NIBATT 11), Magazine, El-Salam. Member of Board of Inquires on the attack on African Union Peacekeepers in Hasakanita, Sudan. President, Oghe Social Development Association, Abuja (OSDA) in 2018; Chairman, Enugu State Lawyers Forum, Abuja in 2019 -2021. Secretary-General, Ezeagu Patriots in 2020. Member Governing Council, Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry in 2020.
Immediately after his secondary education, during the Second Republic in 1983, a very young but audacious Peter Ozoagu contested for the office of Member, House of Assembly, Ezeagu North Constituency under the platform of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the then Old Anambra State House of Assembly and by so doing become the youngest to contest such a political position as at that time.
In his capacity as President OSDA (2018 – 2021), he awarded scholarships to 98 secondary school students from all seven Communities in Oghe from SS1 to SS3. The students have all passed out from secondary school after writing their final examinations in 2021. In addition, teaching aids and writing materials like magic boards, wipe, markers, and customised bundles of exercise books were provided to all the primary schools in Oghe to enhance teaching, research, and learning in the various communities.
Again, the Widows were not left out since he empowered them with cash gifts and material things ranging from clothing and food items. Other indigent members of the Association were all assisted one way or the other based on case-by-case merit.
As OSDA representative in Enugu State Indigenes General Assembly, Abuja, he ensured that all the benefits of his Constituents— Oghe People — were not denied them. During the COVID 19 pandemic, he ensured that they got their fair share of palliatives. Likewise, the Annual free bus service by the State Government is another assistance he sought for his people to benefit from.
In the same vein, as the Chairman, Enugu State Lawyers Forum Abuja 2018-2021, he was able to bring together most of the Lawyers from Enugu State, thereby affording them a strong voice in the affairs of Lawyers in Abuja.
He sits in the Governing Council and various committees of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry from where he has advocated for the welfare and elevation of the less privileged via the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Trade Group. Chief Ozoagu is a member of the Committee that Organised the EP Petty Traders’ business which empowered 72 petty traders from all the Communities in Ezeagu Igbudu and is currently a member of the AGM Committee.
Married to Lolo Ifeoma Ozoagu (Nee Omenka) and blessed with three children, he was honoured with a Meritorious Service Award in 2005 for selfless service to God and humanity by St. Michael’s Military Catholic Church, Tarmandu Barracks, Apapa Lagos.
