Barinua Ebipnale Moses Wifa was born on July 14th, 1936 in Kono, a town presently located in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Barinua, which means “God brings,” was raised in a polygamous yet loving family. He was the second son of his late father, Moses Nwinenaene Wifa, and the eldest child of his mother, late Maria Lewa Naabor.
Maria had named him “Ebipnale” which means: “No questions!” in Ogoni language. At the time, she had felt abandoned by her family members who had rarely bothered to inquire about her well-being post marriage to Barinua’s father. Her family had disapproved of the union because they had wanted her to further her education. Hence, with the birth of her son, she knew she had found solace and purpose. Barinua was very close to his mother and he had always revered and called her his mentor. She had solely catered to his upbringing in the absence of his father who was frequently away from home due to his job’s demands as a Native Court Registrar. From infancy, Maria inculcated in her son the virtues of cleanliness, respect, integrity, and hard work – intrinsic values which helped shape his life.
Young Barinua began his early elementary school education at Kono Methodist School in 1944, and from there, his brilliant academic skills were noticed by his teachers and peers. He later completed his primary education at the Native Authority School, Bori in 1950 and thereafter, passed the entrance examinations to the famous Methodist College, Uzuakoli in present day Isukwuato Local Government Area of Abia State in 1951.
As a brilliant student in secondary school, Barinua who excelled in science subjects and mathematics had dreams of becoming a medical doctor. Alas, that academic dream was unfortunately swept away due to his inability to fund his higher education either at the University College, Ibadan or at a preferred University in the United Kingdom. However, buoyed with hope, and strong will, he joined the work force, first as a teacher at the Lutheran School, near Bori in 1956 and later relocated to Lagos, where he secured employment as a Customs Officer with Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise Service, later known as the Nigerian Customs and Exercise Service in 1957.
In July 1963, with encouragement from a close associate and friend- Mr. Macauley Bazunu, he quit his job and later travelled to London to further his education. However, Barinua later opted to study law, rather than medicine at the Holborn College of Law, an affiliate institution to the University of London. He graduated in 1971, and returned to Nigeria in 1972 to attend the Nigerian Law School. On June 23rd, 1973 he was called to the Nigerian Bar and licensed to practice as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
After law school, he joined the law firm of A. S. Young-Harry & Co., in Port Harcourt on July 1st, 1973. There, he underwent a seven-year tutelage as a legal practitioner and later left to establish his own private law firm, B. M. Wifa & Co., Ebipnale Chambers in 1979.
M. Wifa’s antecedents as a brilliant, hardworking lawyer made him popular, so much so that without lobbying he was appointed Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in the old Rivers State from January 6th, 1984 to August 27th, 1985. After that, he occupied several public service positions both in his State and at the Federal levels. Some of his noteworthy accomplishments include:
* The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch from 1986 to 1989.
* A member of the National Executive Committee of the NBA.
* In addition, he had on various occasions, been a member of the Disciplinary Committee of the NBA.
* He was a member of the Council of Legal Education from 1991 -1993.
* He was one of the four legal practitioners who were appointed in Rivers State to sit as Sole Judges of Election Petition Tribunals to hear and determine Election Petitions arising from Local Government Elections held in 1996.
* Chairman of the Committee for the Revision of the Constitution of the NBA, 2000.
* From 2006-2010, he was a member of the National Judicial Council (NJC), the highest Judicial Body in Nigeria, having been appointed in May, 2006 and re-appointed in July, 2008 for a second term.
* He was twice appointed to serve as a Commissioner in the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission.
* He also served as a member of the Editorial Board on the Laws of Rivers State.
* He was appointed a member of the Elders Council of the South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA) and received several awards.
In his lifetime, he received several accolades, most notable among them include:
His elevation to the inner Bar as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (S.A.N) in 1998 in recognition of his track record as an exceptionally brilliant and renowned legal practitioner
His national award as Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR) in December, 2005
His appointment as Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology, Minna in 2005.
As a member of the Methodist Faith, his admission into the selected body of “Knight of John Wesley” (KJW) was in recognition and appreciation of his devotion to God and service to the church in 2007.
And on May 27th, 2017, he was awarded the “Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State” (DSSRS) during the Golden Jubilee of Rivers State.
M. Wifa was married to Mrs. Cecilia Lebia Wifa (nee Dome) for 39 years. It was love at first sight for him when he met Cecilia at the ordination of her first cousin Levi Boniko, as a priest in Bodo. He often said she was the most stunning girl he had ever met and reminded him of a beautiful female character in his favourite English film “My Fair Lady.” He regularly called her “Cee,” and “Lebia,” – the name given to her by her mother – which means the “beautiful one.” Cecilia in turn fell for the handsome and caring gentleman, and after six months courtship, they got married on the 26th of
December, 1981. With his support and encouragement, Cecilia earned her first degree in Sociology from the University of Port Harcourt in 1994. She became his closest confidant, lover, personal lioness (defender), personal health & fitness guardian and later, his colleague after her successful call to the Nigerian Barin 2011.
Their union was blessed with a daughter in 1982, Dr. Anita Nubarido Wifa (now Mrs. Oweredaba). As an only child, they shared a remarkably close and special bond. He fondly called her “Nee,” and he loved talking about her, always with pride. He provided her with the nicest things, but he also instilled in her many of his virtues, especially his academic prowess. He took his fatherly role seriously and was never too busy to assist his daughter in whatever challenges that she faced. From being a nursery pupil to a medical student, he had always joined in prepping her for the school workload. Together, they prepared and overcame whatever academic challenges she encountered. In his daughter, Barinua’s dream of being a medical doctor were fulfilled with Anita graduating as a Medical Doctor in 2005, and later in 2008, earning her master’s degree in Public Health in the United Kingdom. She is also a Member of both the West African College of Physicians and the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in Family Medici His daughter’s accomplishments during B.M. Wifa’s lifetime gave him a lot of joy.
Dr. Anita’s marriage to a medical practitioner, Dr. Sokaribo, Oweredaba, is blessed with ‘ two daughters- Somieibi and Sokeipirim Oweredaba.
Barinua Moses Wifa was very fond of his granddaughters and proudly referred to them as his other “lionesses.” He named Somiebi, “Ewonubari” which means the Grace and Mercy of God in Ogoni. He often called Sokeipirim “Angela” because he said she looked and behaved like an Angel, reminiscent of his mother. His energetic granddaughters delighted him immensely whenever they visited their ‘Grandpa’ and ‘Grandma.” He particularly shared a sweet tooth with Somiebi, and together they explored the world of candies, chocolates, cakes, ice-creams and “coco-pops.”
Like their mom, his granddaughters were his heart’s golden apples and he showered them with excessive gifts, whether they asked for them or not. His granddaughters in turn thought the world of their granddad. To them, he was their “super hero” and the “best granddad ever!” They loved him so much and had never experienced any unkind actions or harsh words from him. Until he fell ill, his granddaughters slept in their grandparent’s bedroom whenever they spent the night at any of their grandfather’s homes either in Port Harcourt or in Kono, and this occurred quite often. His granddaughters also convinced him to watch some of their much-loved Nickelodeon Channel programs with them, which he eventually came to love too.
As a father in law, Barinua was chummy with his son in law Dr. Sokaribo Oweredaba whom he called “Soki” or sometimes humorously dubbed “Showkey.” Sokaribo in return, affectionately called him “Capone”, and they often spent quality time together discussing all manners of topics while drinking their favourite liquors, including their special “UNEP Report” concoctions of roots and gin.
Barinua had a memorable and loving relationship with most members of his extended family, who regarded him as the family head and father figure. He equally enjoyed an amiable relationship with his in-laws from the Dome family of Bodo, in Gokana Local Government Area, and likewise cherished his in-laws from the family of Black-Duke, Oweredaba family of Abonnema in Akuku-toru Local Government Area.
A lover of nature and animals, Barinua had an array of household pets from dogs, cats to birds.
He enjoyed having sumptuous English breakfasts most mornings made up of toast, butter, jam, bacon, boiled eggs, sausages, with either hot tea or coffee. His favourite Nigerian dishes were pounded yam with Okro soup, and boiled unripe plantains with fresh fish pepper soup. He always left ample portions of his meals for whoever would clear the dishes off the table.
A prolific writer and an avid reader, Barinua was a lover of literature and good music too. He loved the classics, jazz and hymns. He was an erudite social and public affairs commentator, and a connoisseur of fine wines and good food. He had an amazing passion for cars; the branded BMW was his favourite (as it shared his name initials too). He had excellent taste in decor as could be seen in his country home, city residence and personal office. Wherever he
went, he cut a debonair figure in rimless eyeglasses, official wigs and gowns, regular designer formal suits and ties, native Woko attires and bowler hats with walking stick, despite his plus sized figure, which he carried with regal grace.
He was fondly and popularly called Daddy, Uncle, Dede, Teeh, Uncle B.M., Birabeke of Kono, Dede Court, Sir, Lord Barry (by close associates), and of course “SAN.”
Barinua was passionate about his hometown Kono, which was perceived by most persons as the cradle of civilization in the heart of Ogoni land. Despite the poor infrastructure and lack of Government presence at that time, he voluntarily chaired the Kono Leadership Forum, where the aim was to encourage the Kono People to support the development of their hometown through collective communal initiatives.
His philanthropy was common knowledge to many who had come in contact with him, whether they were his senior or junior colleagues in the legal profession, members of his Church, clients, friends, distant relatives, students at all levels and even strangers. Most of all widows and orphans either known to him or introduced by acquaintances, benefitted from his benevolence.
Surprisingly, many who had thought he was inaccessible, found to their amazement that he was an easy-going and simple man, with a great sense of humour and a large, kind heart. Often filled with empathy for people with genuine need for help, whether they were known or unknown to him, Barinua had felt blessed and grateful to be used by God as His vessel in rendering service to humanity. Anytime he was called upon by the church, either for his legal services or personal donations or involvement in planning some activities, he eagerly responded positively.
In 2016/2017 he instituted a prize for the Best Graduating Student in Jurisprudence and International Law at the Faculty of Law in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. Prior to that, he had for over two decades awarded prizes to the best graduating student in “Land Law,” whilst it was a final year course.
M. Wifa Chambers, an Academic Unit at the Faculty of Law, was established in established in 2002 in his honour by the Rivers State University. And he funded a bursary of N100,000.00 (One hundred thousand naira) for the best graduating student of the Chambers.
From his humble beginnings as “The Boy from Kono,” Barinua Moses Wifa rose and attained prominence as “The Big Man from Kono.” A proud son of Ogoni, Sir B. M. Wifa earned and won accolades for his relentless pursuits of justice, peace and equity. He was a man of valour, a man of the people and for the people; a soldier who fought for the poor, the weak, the sons and daughters of nobles and laity, alike. A leader by example and mettle, he aged with grace despite the challenges of ill health that finally impinged on his wish to continue in his quest for justice for all and to one day become a lay Preacher of the Methodist Church. With dedication, diligence, hard work and humility, he raced to a starry end.
Sir Barinua Ebipnale Moses Wifa, OFR, SAN, DSSRS, KJW, JP died on November 7th, 2020 at the ROYAL MARSDEN HOSPITAL in the United Kingdom at the age of 84. Sadly, yet with strong resilience, courage and endurance, he battled with Acute Myeloid Leukemia for sixteen months before he “calmly” made his exit from the world’s stage where he had performed according to the divine script written and given to him.
Adorned with great warriors’ medals of honour, Sir B. M. Wifa would embark on his final journey home to kono on June 26th, 2021.
