Louis Mbanefo was born in Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, and obtained his education in the United Kingdom at a time when it was extremely rare to have a person of his ethnic persuasion pursuing higher education, much less professional training at the bar.
14 Facts About Louis Mbanefo
1.
2.
Louis Mbanefo was later admitted to University College London, where he studied law, graduating with Upper Second Class Honours in 1935.
3.
Louis Mbanefo was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple, shortly after graduating from university.
4.
Louis Mbanefo was then admitted to King's College, Cambridge, where he obtained a further degree in history in 1937.
5.
Louis Mbanefo became an invaluable asset in the new dispensation.
6.
Louis Mbanefo's practice covered a huge area, basically the East and North of the country.
7.
Louis Mbanefo made several notable appearances in landmark cases before the Regional Court, Supreme Court and West African Court of Appeal, reports of appearances before the Privy council are as yet unconfirmed.
8.
Louis Mbanefo later entered politics and was elected into the Eastern Region Parliament in 1950, where he distinguished himself as an excellent orator and lawmaker.
9.
The pull of the legal profession was strong and Louis Mbanefo returned after only a two-year stint in politics.
10.
Louis Mbanefo was later seconded back to the Eastern Region as Chief Justice in 1961 and in 1962.
11.
Louis Mbanefo reached the peak of his judicial career when he was appointed to the International Court of Justice, as an ad hoc Judge, a position he occupied till 1966, when he returned to his post as Chief Justice of the Eastern Region.
12.
Louis Mbanefo was actively involved in the peace talks with the Nigerian Government and worked actively towards a diplomatic resolution of the crisis.
13.
Louis Mbanefo remained in Biafra till the very end, after the Biafran leader fled, leaving Sir Louis and Major-General Philip Effiong to effectively take the noble step of ending the war, the surrender being effectively signed by Major-General Philip Effiong.
14.
Sir Louis Mbanefo died in 1977, in many people's view without his country having had the full value of his knowledge and ability as a jurist and statesman; however, his legacy was to open doors for several of his kinsmen to pursue careers at the bar as well as his sterling career as a barrister and illustrious career on the bench, especially at the International Court of Justice.