Dr Pius Ukeyima Akutah MON, he is a Nigerian legal practitioner, public servant and politician. The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, an appointment he assumed on October 25, 2023, succeeding Emmanuel Jime. He officially resumed duties on November 1, 2023, in Lagos at the NSC headquarters.
UAkutah declared his goal to build upon the foundation established by his predecessors when he took office at the Nigerian Shippers Council. The council has implemented an electronic traffic system, activated the cargo tracking note, and promoted port efficiency with the stated goal of cutting the cargo clearance time from 48 to 24 hours.
The Nigerian Shippers Council has called attention to the council’s adoption of automated payment systems in place of manual ones. The advantages of registering to improve a database of port service providers and users, along with a “know your customers” policy, have also been emphasised.
Akutah was born in Benue State, Nigeria, in the Ushongo Local Government Area. He graduated from the University of Jos with a law degree. In 2006, I graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Abuja. After attending the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja, he was admitted as a Barrister at Law (BL) to the Nigerian Bar in May 2007. Subsequently, he obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in Public International Law from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 2016.
On December 10, 2024, he earned a Ph.D. in International Cooperation in Criminal Matters at Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
Dr. Akutah is an alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and attended the U.S. International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA). He is also a chartered mobile and computer forensics examiner.
Akutah’s career has involved international legal cooperation and maritime governance. His background includes work in extradition, Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA), and international treaty negotiation. His current role involves aligning Nigeria’s shipping practices with global standards.
Before assuming his role at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr Akutah held positions within the Nigerian legal system, with service in international cooperation in criminal matters spanning over two decades. He served as Assistant Director and Head of the Central Authority Unit of the International Cooperation Department under the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
In this capacity, he led Nigeria’s efforts on mutual legal assistance (MLA) and extradition law. He participated in the negotiation and execution of international legal cooperation with various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, and Ghana. His responsibilities included coordinating international criminal prosecutions, overseeing treaty negotiations, and managing MLA requests and extradition proceedings.
He was involved in the prosecution of criminal cases, including the extradition of fugitives to countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America. In 2022, he concluded an extradition case at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. In August 2023, he oversaw the extradition of two suspects involved in cybercrime, specifically “sextortion”, to face trial in the US.
In November 2023, Kutah helped to negotiate bilateral agreements pertaining to extradition and mutual legal assistance between Nigeria and other countries. HI encouraged the states of Nigeria to adopt the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) by reviewing and endorsing it. He also authored legal opinions on the use of United Nations treaties.
Akutah is a faculty member with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Commonwealth Secretariat. [1][6] In these roles, he has trained prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officials on applying international conventions in combating transnational organised crime. He has taught International Cooperation in Criminal Matters in various countries. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (FCILT) and a Fellow of the Institute of Transport Administration (FInstTA).
In 2020, Akutah initiated a peace effort by drilling two boreholes separately at Tse-Yagba, Mkem, Tsambe, and another in Tse Yua in Mbaikyume, Mbagwaza district. This effort aimed to resolve conflicts between the border communities of Tsambe in Vandeikya and Mbagwaza in Ushongo Local Government Areas.
In 2019, Akutah donated a furnished house to a centenarian in Mbagwaza, Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State, who had been living in a dilapidated thatched hut.
In the executive office, he provided guidance and assistance to comrade Oryaigo Teryima K, a physically challenged Benue State University alumnus from NYSC days to the executive office in Lagos. Dr. Akuta’s generosity transcends social class and race; his good deeds are not limited by language or tribe.
In Benue State, his home state, he started and provided funding for development projects. Among his endeavours are youth mentoring and grassroots empowerment.
Akutah is a recipient of the 2017 Presidential Civil Service Merit Award (PCSMA). He was conferred with the National Honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022.
President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo presented him with the Presidential Merit Award for excellent service for contributions in the drafting and presentation of the African Charter for Maritime Safety and Security. [In 2024, he was named “Regulator of the Year” by a leading industry publication.
About the Author
