“Who do you think you are? Step down a little; you take matters too seriously.”

These are some of the words thrown at Mowoe Okoro by fellow lawyers and judges, intended to pressure and discourage him from defending the truth.

But he is never cowed.

Upon graduating from the University of Benin in 1998, Okoro proceeded to law school in Enugu State, graduating in 2001. On February 26, 2003, he was called to the bar and started working as an associate with Larry Ovwromoh and Associates, a law firm located in Warri, Delta State.

In 2006, after three years of experience, he established the Sanctuary of Justice Law Firm, based in Warri, Delta State, with an office in Port Harcourt. Okoro’s first case as a lawyer was representing widows of deceased Shell employees, ensuring that the terminal benefits of their husbands were delivered to them and their children.

In over two decades of legal practice, Okoro handled numerous cases within the Nigerian legal system. 

Pressures To Give In

Okoro’s honesty, dedication to duty, and strict adherence to the law have earned him both praise and resentment from colleagues and judges. He has had tempting offers dangled before him to compromise his standards. But he never yields.

For instance, he said a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) once invited him to his home in Lagos while a case was ongoing, offering him money to withdraw from the case.

“But I refused,” Okoro said. “I told him I had a conscience, and I had to protect my name and integrity. I was determined to see the case through. I did not bow to pressure.”

This has earned him the admiration of young lawyers. “I admire Mowoe Ivan Okoro for his advocacy skill and his in-depth knowledge of the law,”  said Alero Eyetsemitan, who was a young lawyer In 2016, when she spoke to Punch newspaper. She was responding to the question, “Who are the people you look up to or admire in the legal profession?”.

A few years later, in 2019, in an interview with ThisDay, another Young lawyer, Felix Ese Akpovwovowo, mentioned Okoro as one of the most influential people in his life. 

He described Okoro as an influence who pushes him “to redefine excellence and to aspire to greater heights in legal practice.” 

His Father’s Son

Sometimes, when Okoro addresses the court, other lawyers crowd and listen because of the unwavering passion with which he speaks about cases, his desire for justice, and his dexterity of delivery.

“I work day and night because I am afraid of failure. I prepare well ahead of cases because the only thing I know is success,” he said. “I am not afraid to take on any lawyer, anywhere, because I am fiercely against injustice and always want to stand for the truth.”

However, Okoro does not handle all cases, particularly political and election petitions, which he says are often technical and not necessarily based on justice and truth.

“Politicians have used their money to corrupt the process,” he stated. 

“If a client has a bad case, I tell them from the beginning and suggest that we seek alternatives to resolve the issue,” he explained. “The essence of being a lawyer is to defend within the ambit of the law.”

Okoro credits his hard work and spirit of excellence to his father, a police prosecutor and Scottish-trained detective who worked in the 1950s. He was the 913th commissioned police officer and worked for 21 years, retiring in the 70s.

“He told me and my siblings that he would not pay any bribe to get us into the university and that we needed to work hard. My father left us a legacy of integrity, hard work, and discipline, and that is all I have and I want to leave for the generations to come,” Okoro said. 

Leader By Example

Victor Obuzor, who has known Okoro since 2014, describes him as calm, articulate, meticulous, and very disciplined. After working at Okoro’s firm in Warri, Obuzor considers him the best boss he has ever had.

“Okoro gives you the confidence to be the best in all you do.”

“He does not hold back knowledge; he cares about people, loves to give, and does not discriminate,” Obuzor said. 

He described Okoro as a lawyer who stands out for his incorruptibility, his punctuality, and his commitment to justice, equity, and fairness. 

“While money is important, what matters to Okoro first is justice, equity, and fairness Judges hardly fault reading his brief because, in addition to being detailed, he makes it easy for them to read through.”

“He always leads by example,” Obuzor explained. 

In 2021, Obuzor started his own law firm in Lagos known as “Ebere Victor Obuzor and Co. (Mercy and Grace Chambers). He credits Okoro’s teachings and mentorship for shaping him into the lawyer he is today. 

Plethora Of Awards And Nominations

Okoro’s defence of the truth has earned him numerous awards. Since 2007, he has received thirteen of them from the Warri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for his exemplary service.

Okoro has also been honoured as Grand Patron of the Holy Ghost Vocational Movement of Nigeria, a group that supports Catholic missionary priests in their training.

He has also received an award from the Faculty of Law, Delta State University, where he is a patron for his exemplary leadership. He said that these awards only serve to encourage him to keep standing for the truth.

Today, Okoro is respected not only for his advocacy skill and in-depth knowledge of the law but also for his unwavering passion to uphold the truth at all times and ensure that justice prevails. He is a shining example that it is possible to be a lawyer and remain incorruptible.

This report is championed by Accountability Lab Nigeria and sponsored by The John D. and Catherine D. MacArthur Foundation and Luminate.