Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has announced his first appointments following his inauguration on Tuesday, with the son of a former governor and serving Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, Cyril, making the list of three. A statement by the chief press secretary to the governor, Fred Itua, said Cyril Oshiomhole, a medical doctor, would serve as commissioner for Health. While Samson Osagie, PhD, former member of the House of Representatives, is the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice-designate, Musa U. Ikhilor, a lawyer, was named Secretary to the State Government (SSG). Osagie and Oshiomhole’s appointments are however subject to confirmation by the state House of Assembly. Dr. Osagie is a private legal practitioner having been called to the Nigerian Bar on March 22nd, 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 as well as the House of Representatives where he served as 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.
Ikhilor was born on August 6, 1980, at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State. He 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, Ikhilor proceeded to acquire his master’s degree in Telecommunications Law (LL.M) from same Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He 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 House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the review of the 1999 Constitution, 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 House of Representatives 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 House of Representatives when the substantive Chief of Staff resigned to contest in the 2023 parliamentary elections. In June 2022, Ikhilor was appointed by the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Notary Public. He is active in business, corporate legal practice and social works where he serves as the Managing Partner of Springfield Legal Consult, and as the Executive Director & member, Board of Trustees of Amana Legacy Foundation. In addition to these roles, he also provides consultancy services to several private and public sector entities. He is married with children. Dr. Oshiomhole acquired his bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery (MBBS) at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. 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.