Itsejuwa Esanjumi Sagay, popularly known as Itse Sagay, is a renowned Nigerian legal expert, scholar, author, and human rights advocate. Born on December 20, 1940, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, Sagay hails from Warri, Delta State. He has made significant contributions to the field of law in Nigeria and beyond, earning him numerous accolades and awards.
Sagay received his early education at CMS School in Warri and later attended Government College, Ughelli, Delta State. After working as a Customs clerk and a programme operator (studio manager) at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Ikoyi, he pursued his tertiary education. In 1962, he gained admission into the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where he obtained his Bachelor of Law degree (LL.B) in 1965. He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School for his professional training and was called to the Bar in July 1966. He obtained the Certificate of the Council of Legal Education (B.L.) in 1966 and became an enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on July 22, 1966.
Driven by his passion for academia, Sagay was retained as a teaching assistant by the University of Ife, which sponsored him for post-graduate studies at King’s College, Cambridge University, UK. He obtained his Master’s degree in 1968 and his Doctorate degree from the same university in 1970. He also obtained a Certificate from The Hague Academy of International Law in 1976.
Upon his return to the University of Ife, Sagay steadily climbed the professional ladder and was appointed as a Professor of Law in 1979. During his tenure at the University of Ife, he served in various capacities, including Acting Head of the Department of International Law, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law, and eventually Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1981 to 1982. In 1981, he joined the University of Benin as a visiting Professor and later became the institution’s first and only professor for the first few years.
As an esteemed legal scholar, Sagay has authored numerous articles, conference papers, and reviews, and has written eleven books, including the highly regarded “The Nigerian Law of Contract,” which remains a seminal publication on Nigerian contract law and a resource material for law students.
Apart from his academic accomplishments, Sagay has also served in various ad-hoc capacities in national and international institutions, including the African Union (AU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Nigerian Council for Legal Education, and UN Special Committee Against Apartheid, among others. He is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is also a member of prestigious international legal associations, such as the International Law Association and the American Society of International Law, as well as the Nigerian Society of International Law, among others.
Presently, Sagay is the Managing Partner of Itse Sagay & Co., a position he has held since 1988. In August 2015, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption by President Muhammadu Buhari, which speaks to his reputation for integrity, high principles, and a strong sense of propriety.
Professor Itse Sagay is happily married to Mrs. Sheila Tare Sagay and has children. He has received numerous prestigious.
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