In this article I will be sharing with you 10 Nigerian celebrities who are legal practitioners (Lawyers) in real life, but decided to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Some have forgotten about what they read in school while some are still practicing as legal practioners in court while some are using their entertainment platform to fight injustice, human right abuse and attacking corrupt politicians. So not to waste much of your time I present to you 10 Nigerian celebrities who are legal practitioners (Lawyers) in real life.…CONTINUE READING>>>...CONTINUE READING
1. Kanayo O. Kanayo
Anayo Modestus Onyekwere popularly known as Kanayo O. Kanayo is a veteran Nollywood actor and United Nations ambassador who became lawyer at the age of 58. In 2006, he won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a leading role for his performance in the movie “Family Battle”. On 15th September, 2020 Kanayo O. Kanayo surprised fans with the very exciting news that he has been called to bar as a legal practitioner. The talented Nollywood actor said it has been his lifetime ambition to go back to school and secure his law degree. He is a graduate of Law from the University of Abuja. He graduated in 2018. He also completed his Law School in Abuja and was called to bar in 2020 as a legal practitioner.
2. Kenneth Okonkwo
Kenneth Okonkwo is a veteran Nollywood actor popularly known for his role in the movie “Living in Bondage” where he played the lead role as Andy Okeke. He is a famous Nollywood actor, producer, politician, entrepreneur, and television personality. Kenneth Okonkwo graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Nigeria Nsukka and later graduated with a Master Degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos. After which he proceeded to Law school in Abuja and was called to the bar as a legal practitioner.
3. Richard Mofe Damijo
Richard Mofe-Damijo popularly known as RMD is a veteran Nollywood actor, writer, producer, and former commissioner of culture and tourism in Delta State. RMD had his first degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Benin in Edo state. After making an indelible impact in the make-believe industry as an actor, RMD went back to the University of Lagos in 1997 to earn a degree in Law to fulfill his mother’s lifelong wish for her son to be a Lawyer. After which he proceeded to law school in Abuja and was called to Bar as a legal practitioner.
4. Ebuka Obi-Uchendu
Ebuka Obi Uchendu has been a force to reckon with in the Nigeria entertainment industry. As a TV personality, Ebuka is best known for hosting the popular reality show, Big Brother Naija, Rubbing Minds on Channels TV as well as Men’s Corner on Ebony live TV. He is hosting a legal show on Africa Magic Family, where he adjudicates for local matters in Nigeria. He holds a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Abuja and proceeded to Nigerian Law School in Abuja and was called to bar as a legal practitioner in 2005. He then returned to school after a 5-year working gap, graduating in December 2010 from the Washington College of Law at the American University in Washington DC in the United States of America, with a Master of degree in law and specializations in Intellectual Property as well as Communications law from the Law and Government program. He came into limelight as a contestant on the reality television show Big Brother Naija first edition in 2006.
5. Falz
Folarin Falana popularly known by his stage name as Falz, is a Nigerian rapper, songwriter, actor and a human right activist. Falz’s parents are both well-known lawyers in Lagos State. He is the son of legendary lawyer, SAN and social commentator, Femi Falana. Falz studied law in the university, went to law school and was called to bar as a legal practitioner, but he left the legal profession to focus on music, using it as a medium to air out his voice on the injustice and corruption in Nigeria. Falz studied law at the University of Reading in England. Having graduated with an L.L.B Honors Degree in Law, Falz was called to bar in 2021 after graduating from Nigerian Law School in Abuja. Falz worked in his father’s chambers for a while before following his dream as an entertainer. Today, Falz has spread his entertainment tentacle into acting and comedy.
6. Funke Akindele
Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele, popularly known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa is a Nollywood actress and film producer. The popular actress and film-maker first obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from the former Ogun State Polytechnic, now known as Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. She later went to the University of Lagos to study Law and graduate as one of the best students. She later went to law school in Abuja and was called to bar. But she decided to abandon her legal profession to pursue a career in the entertainment which brought her to Nollywood. Her first appearance on television drama was in ‘I Need to Know’ as a teenager in early 90s. She the producer of the popular TV series Jenifa’s Diary and My Siblings And I. In 2023, she contested for Deputy Governor in Lagos state but lost.
7. Femi Adebayo
Femi Adebayo is a Nollywood actor, director, producer, television personality, lawyer, and a special adviser to the Governor of Kwara State on Arts, Culture and Tourism. He is the son of veteran Nollywood actor, Otunba Adebayo Salami. He is also a proprietor of a school of art located in Ibadan. He started acting right from his secondary school days before he went to the university. Femi Adebayo attended the University of Ilorin where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Law. He also earned a master’s degree in law at the University of Ibadan. After which he proceeded to law school in Abuja and was called to Bar. After graduation, Femi Adebayo practiced law for some years specializing in estate and property law before going into the Nigerian movie industry popularly known as Nollywood. Femi Adebayo is one of the active film producers in the Yoruba movie genre.
8. Omawumi Megbele
Omawumi Megbele is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, recording artist and an actress. In 2005, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Law from Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma in Edo state where she studied law. She later went to Law School in Abuja and was called to bar as a legal practitioner. After graduation from law school, Omawumi worked briefly at her brother’s law firm, O.S Megbele and Associates before she contested for the Nigerian Idols West Africa in 2007. Omawumi embraced entertainment through her participation in Nigerian Idols West African where she emerged as the first runner up and ever since then she has embraced music forgetting her wigs and gown as a legal practitioner.
9. Lepacious Bose
Bose Ogunboye popularly known as Lepacious Bose is a Nigerian Comedienne, actress, and an entertainer popularly known as Madam K in the Nigerian television series The Johnsons. When she was young, she had always dreamed of being an actress so she studied Theatre art in the University of Ibadan against her father’s will. Few years after graduation, she went back to school to study law in order to be on her father’s good book who she refers to as her hero. She was called to bar in 2010 as a legal practitioner. Lepacious Bose abandoned the legal luminary of the law profession for the excitement of the entertainment industry. Her stage name, Lepacious Bose is a contradiction of her former stature, because she was extra large and that has really worked for her.
10. Omotunde Adebowale
Omotunde Adebowale popularly known as Lolo1 is a Nollywood actress, and a Nigerian radio presenter. She hosted the popular Pidgin English speaking radio programme, ‘Oga Madam’ on Wazobia FM 94.1, till 2019 when she left and joined Lasgidi FM as the general manager and an on-air personality. She is a graduate of Lagos State University, Ojo where she studied Law. She later went to law school in Abuja and was called to bar as a legal practitioner. She practiced the law profession for three years before she left her wig and gown to become an on-air-personality.…CONTINUE READING>>>
