By Our Reporter
Shortly after being sworn in as the new Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo has made his first set of appointments, signaling his administration’s priorities.
Barrister Musa Ikhilor has been appointed as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), making him a key figure in coordinating the new administration’s activities.
Additionally, Dr. Samson Osagie, a former federal lawmaker, has been nominated as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, while Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole has been selected to serve as the Health Commissioner.
Dr. Cyril, the son of former Governor and current Senator Adams Oshiomhole, represents continuity in the state’s political landscape, with his father currently serving as the Senator for Edo North.
The appointments were contained in a press statement endorsed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Fred Itua, which said the nomination of Osagie and Oshiomhole will be confirmed by the Edo State House of Assembly when their names are forwarded by Governor Okpebholo.
Dr. Samson Osagie, the nominee for the office of Attorney-General, is a private legal practitioner having been called to the Nigerian Bar on March 22, 1995.
He is also the current vice president of the African Bar Association (West African Region).
Born on November 11, 1967, Dr. Osagie hails from Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State.
He was a two-term member of the Edo State House of Assembly and also the House of Representatives where he rose to the position of the Minority Whip.
He has been involved in intensive legal practice across Nigeria and the African continent.
He holds a First degree in Law from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife, a qualifying Certificate for Law practice from the Nigerian Law School, a triple Master’s degrees in Law, Public Administration and International Relations. He also bagged a Doctorate Degree in Political Economy and Development Studies.
He has been Legal Adviser, Solicitor, and Consultant to many corporate Organisations and development partners.
For his part, Dr Cyril Adams Oshiomhole’s academic journey began at St. Anne’s Primary School, followed by Command Secondary School, where. He later pursued higher education at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS).
Oshiomhole enrolled at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA. where he obtained a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH, majoring in Environmental Health, Toxicology, and Disaster Management).
His academic pursuits continued at Harvard University, Boston ,where he underwent postgraduate training in Clinical Research and at Queen Mary University, London, where he studied Gastroenterology.
While Barr. Ikhilor was born on August 6, 1980 at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State. Barr. Ikhilor attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained an LL.B in 2008 (Second class Upper Division). In 2009, he obtained a B.L. (Second class Upper Division) at the Nigerian Law School and was enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In 2017, Barr. Ikhilor proceeded to acquire his Masters degree in Telecommunications Law (LL.M) from same Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Barr. Ikhilor has over 11 years of experience in Legislative Drafting, Parliamentary Administration, Lawmaking procedure and processes, Constitutional drafting and amendment, and general Legislative Governance issues working in various capacities at the National Assembly.
In 2019, he was appointed as a Consultant to the Federal House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where he has been closely analysing and reviewing matters on Gender Equity, Human Rights, and strengthening Institutions of Government and creating efficient and transparent processes and systems to deliver Good Governance.
Also in 2019, he was appointed as Senior Special Assistant and later Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who also doubled as the 1st Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.
In May 2022, he was assigned to act as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when the substantive Chief of Staff resigned to contest in the 2023 parliamentary elections.
