Ebonyi State Goverment | Ministry of Justice

The Commissioner
Vision and Mission

THE HON. ATTORNEY-GENERAL & COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE

Hon. Barr Cletus Nwokoro Ofoke was born on 3rd November, 1982 into the family of Chief and Mrs. Ofoke Nwankwegu (Aphulenya-Ekwe) (of the blessed memory) of Okpoduma (Nwofe) Agbaja in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

His penchant for Western Education took him to Agbaja Central School, Nwofe where his leadership potentialities manifested as he became the General Monitor of the school and graduated in 1996. Young Cletus, as he was fondly called, proceeded to Boys’ Secondary School, Iboko for his secondary education. He combined his studies with teaching at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Nwofe. He finished his secondary education in 2001 in flying colours as he was the overall best in 2001 WAEC result of the school. He was also in the school administration as he served as Games Prefect and lifted the school very high in its sporting activities within and outside the State.

In the same year 2001, he got admission to study law at Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki and he graduated in 2006. He proceeded to Nigerian Law School, Bwari Campus, Abuja and was called to bar on 13th November, 2007. His compulsory National Youth Service Corps took him to Rivers State and had his Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) with Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Port Harcourt where he displayed high level of advocacy and knowledge of the law. He was the Secretary, Legal Aid CDS Group, Rivers State in the 2007/2008 service year.

Upon his return from service in September, 2008, he joined the law firm of Eze, Eze & Partners owned by the former two-time Attorney-General of Ebonyi State, Chief Jossy Eze and mentored by Barr. Chris Eze now Hon. Justice Chris Eze of the High Court of Justice, Obiozara, Ebonyi State.
Having learnt the rope and the rudiments of the legal profession for eight (8) years, Barr. Cletus Nwokoro Ofoke opened his own law firm known as Cletus N. Ofoke & Co (Aphulenya-Ekwe Chambers) in 2016.

He has served the NBA, Abakaliki branch as the Assistant Welfare Secretary. He is a Legal Adviser to many organizations, Associations and Establishments both within and outside the State including Agbaja Progressive Union (National). He has won many awards to his credit.

Barr. Cletus Nwokoro Ofoke served as the Legal Adviser to the Speaker Ebonyi State House of Assembly (EBHA) from 2015 to November, 2017 when he was appointed the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ebonyi State by the workaholic Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Chief David Nweze Umahi, a position he occupied till 29th May 2019. Upon assumption of office as Governor of Ebonyi State for second term, the Governor, Engr. Chief Dr. David Nweze Umahi reappointed Hon. Barr. Cletus N. Ofoke as Hon. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and was sworn in on 19th June, 2019 as the 9th Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice since the creation of Ebonyi State in 1996.

Presently, Hon. Barr. Cletus N. Ofoke is the youngest Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Nigeria. As the Chief Law officer of Ebonyi State, he has carved niche for himself as a thoroughbred professional per excellence. He sticks to professional ethics, professional decency and professional excellence and has always demonstrated intellectual fervor as a hallmark for his official duties. He is altruistic leader who has made difference in the Ministry of Justice, Ebonyi State since his appointment into the office.

Hon. Barr. Cletus N. Ofoke is a member of the following statutory bodies:

Member, Nigeria Bar Association
Member, Body of Benchers, Nigeria 2017 till date.
Member, Council of Legal Education Nigeria 2017 till date.
Chairman, Ebonyi State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy 2017 till date.
Member, Ebonyi State Judicial Service Commission 2017 till date, Etc.

He is a self-contented man that detests the brazen pursuit for materialism.
Barr Cletus N. Ofoke is a footballer and lover of other sporting activities. He also enjoys listening to news and reading newspapers.
He is happily married to Mercy Cletus-Ofoke, a marriage blessed with lovely children. His philosophy of life is “No one is richer than one who has rest of mind”.

VISION OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, EBONYI STATE

To ensure and enhance justice to all and sundry in the State and to provide legal guidance and protection to the State Government through legal opinions and adequate representation. It is also to evolve into a world class Justice Department where Technology (including ICT) will be brought to bear on our service delivery and speedy dispensation of justice thereby reducing prison congestion.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE ARE:

To serve as a veritable and indispensable link between the Executive and the Legislature.
To vet all contract agreements entered into by the government to ensure that the respective Rights and obligations of government and the contractor are clearly defined and protected.
To provide remedial services for human rights violation in its human rights desk in the Ministry.
To take part in jail delivery exercise where deserved prison inmates are freed by the Chief Judge of the State in the spirit of prison decongestion.
To handle cases (Civil and Criminal).
To provide succour to families torn apart by conflicts over sharing the Estate of their benefactor who dies without intestate through the office of the Administrator-General/Public Trustees.
To enhance premium welfare services to members of staff of the Ministry.
To help to secure landed properties of the State within and outside.
To grant fiats to deserving lawyers.
To organize training and conferment of Justice of Peace (JP) to deserving persons routinely.
To generate revenue to the State Government.