Chief Benjamin Afagu Ekwealor, a legal practitioner, and former Speaker of the Old Anambra State House of Assembly, has reportedly passed away at the age of 89.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) learnt the elder statesman died last Saturday, July 26, 2025, at his residence in Nzam, Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.
His family confirmed the development in a statement released on Wednesday.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Chuba Ekwealor described his late father as a man who used law as a tool for justice and progress.
“He brought his legal expertise to bear across various spheres of public service,” Chuba said.
Chief Ekwealor, before venturing into law and politics had a successful career in education.
He served as a school principal until 1977, when he retired and responded to his community’s call to enter politics.
That same year, he became actively involved with the now-defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and was subsequently elected to the Old Anambra State House of Assembly in 1979.
He was re-elected in 1983 and eventually rose to become the Speaker of the Assembly, which then encompassed present-day Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi States.
As a trained lawyer, Ekwealor served on the Anambra State Judicial Service Commission from 1998 as a representative of the Nigerian Bar.
He held this position for nearly a decade and was widely respected for his principled views and steadfast commitment to judicial ethics.
Beyond his public office roles, Ekwealor was also a respected voice in Nzam and across Anambra State.
Known for his humility and dedication to communal progress, he served as a mentor to many and was a custodian of traditional values.
His life’s work spanned education, law, and politics, making him one of the few Nigerians to seamlessly navigate multiple spheres of influence.