Bassey Dan-Abia (born August 23, 1957) is a Nigerian politician. Before entering politics, he practiced as a lawyer in Kano, Cross River and Lagos States of Nigeria.
Bassey Dan-Abia | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 23, 1957 Eket, Akwa-Ibom State |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Alma mater | University of Lagos |
| Occupation | legal practitioner |
| Political party | All Progressives Congress (2016–present) |
| Spouse | Christine Dan-Abia |
| Children | Betse Bassey Dan-Abia |
| Parent | Abia Abasi-Eyo |
Dan-Abia was born and raised in Afaha Ekpenedi Village in Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and received a law degree from the University of Lagos. He started his private law practice in 1995. He later became the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Akwa Ibom State and MD/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2013.[1] He was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.[2] In 2016, it was alleged that Bassey Dan-Abia held no intention to challenge Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2019,[3] however Dan-Abia entered the 2019 Akwa Ibom State gubernatorial race[4][5] against Udom Emmanuel as a member of the All Progressives Congress.[6]
Career
editIn 1981, Dan-Abia began his career as a legal adviser at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Kano State Police Command where he satisfied the requirement for the National Youth Service. Dan-Abia proceeded to work at the law firm of Dickson Osuala & Company in Lagos, Nigeria. He subsequently joined the Ministry of Justice, Cross River State as State Counsel. He left the ministry in 1983 and was employed with Icon Merchant Bank Limited as a legal adviser. Dan-Abia was promoted to Company Secretary/Legal Adviser and then to Deputy Manager and to the position of manager at the bank. In January 1994, Dan-Abia was appointed Special Assistant/Adviser to the Minister of Petroleum & Mineral Resources by the Federal Government of Nigeria succeeding another Akwa Ibom son, Chief Udo Udoma.[7]
In 1995, after attachment with the law firm of Lawrence Graham in London, he set up his law firm, Dan-Abia Chambers at Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria and RCC Road, Eket, Akwa Ibom State. He was the Principal of the law firm till he was appointed as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.[8]
Dan-Abia became Akwa Ibom State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice from August 2003 till October 2006. In May 2007, he represented Akwa Ibom State on the 2nd Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission till April 2009, as well as on the 3rd Governing Board of the NDDC, between August 2009-September 2011. Dan-Abia served as the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Transport between April 2012-June 2013, and Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Housing & Urban Renewal in 2013.[9][10]
In December 2013, Dan-Abia became the MD/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)[11] despite some petitions against his nomination[12] till December 2015, when he was fired by Presidenent Muhammadu Buhari and replaced by Ibim Semenitari. His removal was later challenged at the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.[13][14]
References
edit- ^ "NDDC opens 522 bed hostels in Rivers varsity". Group. The Nation Online. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ^ "Buhari sacks NDDC chairman, Bassey Dan Abia". Akintayo Eribake. Vanguard News. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- ^ "2019 guber: I don't have plan to challenge Udom –Dan-Abia". The Sun. The Sun News. 2016-07-06. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- ^ "2019: APC guber aspirant declares in A'Ibom". Isaac Job. The Daily Times. September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ "Akwa Ibom APC Leaders Buy Guber Form for Ekere". ThisDay Live. ThisDay Live Newspapers. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ "Ex NDDC boss Bassey Dan-Abia dumps PDP for APC". Daily Post. Daily Post. 2017-03-06. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- ^ "DAN-ABIA Bassey". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation Nigeria. Nyaknno Osso. 2017-02-09. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ "DAN-ABIA Bassey". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Nyaknno Osso. 2017-02-09. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ "Akwa Ibom State Commissioners". Akwa Ibom News Online. Akwa Ibom News Online. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ^ "Barr. Dan Abia now NDDC MD". WetinHappen Magazine. WetinHappen Magazine. 2015-02-02. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- ^ "NDDC begins stakeholders' meetings". Reporter. The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ "Jonathan set to name Dan Abia as NDDC MD but…". Adekunle. Vanguard Newspapers. October 18, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ^ "Federal High Court in Akwa Ibom State To Hear Suit Challenging NDDC Boss Removal July 5th". Admin. Planet 101.1fm. June 21, 2016. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ "Buhari sacks NDDC chairman, Bassey Dan Abia". Akintayo Eribake. Vanguard Newspapers. Retrieved September 17, 2018.