Dr. Joseph A. Akubo, SAN, ACIArb (UK), is a Notary Public and a native of Okabo village in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State. The learned Senior Counsel began his educational journey in his village with pre-primary school education from 1971 to 1973. He attended LGEA Primary School at Umomi in Ofu LGA of Kogi State (then Kwara/Benue State) from 1973 to
1978. Upon completing his primary education, he immediately enrolled at Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Itobe in 1978, obtaining his WAEC certificate in 1983. Driven by his passionate pursuit of knowledge, he enrolled at the School of Basic Studies, Makurdi between 1983 and 1985.
Dr. J. A. Akubo, SAN’s aspiration to pursue a career in law led him to apply to the prestigious University of Jos in 1986, where he earned an LLB (Hons) degree in 1989. He subsequently proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, the same year. He was called to the Nigerian Bar on December 12, 1990, becoming a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He has been actively engaged in private legal practice since then, specializing in forensic advocacy.
Between September 1990 and September 1991, he served his country as a Youth Corps member at Ghiddy Chambers in Ilorin, Kwara State. Afterward, he was employed as a Junior Counsel at Ocholi James & Associates, Ankpa, from September 1991 to January 1992. In April 1992, Dr. J. A. Akubo, SAN, established his own law firm in Lokoja, Kogi State, upon the creation of the state. He has been the principal counsel at AKUBO & CO, Lokoja, Kogi State, from 1992 to July 2021. He was the Principal Counsel at Joseph Akubo & Co., Lokoja, from August 2021 to October 2022, and Principal Counsel at J. A. Akubo, SAN & Co., with offices in Abuja and Lokoja, from November 2022 to the present, following his elevation to Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
The learned Senior Counsel attended Benue State University, Makurdi, from 2005 to 2007, earning a Master of Laws (LLM) degree. He pursued his Ph.D. at Kogi State University, Anyigba, and obtained the degree in Law in February 2020.
In April 2001, Dr. J.A. Akubo, SAN, was appointed as a Lecturer I at Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, and was promoted to Chief Lecturer in 2017. He has authored three law textbooks: Principles of Law in Nigeria (2005), Business Law Made Easy (2005), and Company Law at a Glance (2007). He has also written and presented numerous papers at national conferences and has published works in reputable journals.
In September 2022, after his fifth attempt, he was awarded the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee and was sworn into the Inner Bar on November 22, 2022.
In 2023, he completed training in International Arbitration and became an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK). Similarly, in August 2024, he underwent training in International Arbitration to become a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK). The results are expected soon. He is currently a member of the ClArb (UK) Nigeria Branch and Abuja Chapter, as well as a member of the Association of African Arbitrators.