Writing about Barr (Chief) Linus Nwaozomudoh’s superlative life of dili­gence, honour and such resounding honesty that his story is still being told by those who knew him in the Police Force (he retired as a Police Commissioner) as a man of steely and resolute integrity, I plead for forgiveness for being tempted to begin from the mundane.

I’ll begin with the unique Nwao­zomudoh family name and its singular­ity in Nigeria. Nwaozomaudoh simply means the son of the Ozoma (a chief­taincy title) of Udo, my own quarter of Ubulu-Uku where the great grand­mother of the Nwaozomaudos came from …and her son, Nwaozomaudo’s grandfather received that most unique of names. So, though Mr. Linus Nwao­zomaudoh is from Ishiekpe quarters of Onicha-Ugbo, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, while I am from Aniocha South LGA, I call him my uncle and he treats me with an uncle’s protective filial love and dutiful guidance for a nephew.

Born June 30, 1942, to the family of Dibieamaka Joseph Nwaozomudoh, the bright and gifted young Linus, after his primary education at All Saints Catholic School, Onicha-Ugbo, from 1948 to 1954 and a year at the St. Anthony’s Modern School, Issele-Uku, attended the famous St. Anthony’s College, Ubulu-Uku, an academic and sports powerhouse, from 1957 to 1961; the school’s very second set as it was founded in 1956. He earned a roaring Grade One in the West African School Certificate Examination, the very second one the school engaged in and helped point St. Anthony’s College on its academic dynamo path.

Nwaozomaudoh worked briefly at the African Timber and Plywood (AT&P), Sapele, but resigned and joined the Nigeria Police Force on April 1, 1963. During the screening ex­ercise, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, the Welfare Officer at the Southern Police College, Ikeja, called out: “Who is Nwaozomudoh?” On showing up, the officer bellowed: “Are you mad? If I was the Commandant, I will not take you. How can you have Grade 1 in WASCE and come to enroll in the Police Force? People like you do not stay in the Police Force. They quickly leave and find their way out when they get admission to the univer­sity. The Police is not for them.”

That Assistant Superintendent did not know Nwaozomaudoh; he gives unmitigated commitment to any duty. And he gave his best to the Police Force: He trained at the Southern Police Col­lege, Ikeja, from April 1st 1963 to April 19th 1964, served meritoriously in many parts of the country in various capacities such as Divisional Police Of­ficer, Prosecutor, Patrol Officer (Motor Traffic Division), Staff Officer at Force Headquarters, Lagos, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO IV), Business Manager in the Publication of Police Magazine and Newsletter, Staff Officer Welfare and Training, Staff Officer Es­tablishments, without a blot in his file.

Among other courses, he attended Detective Training School, West Riding Constabulary, Wakefield England, UK, (1967), Certificate Course in Mass Com­munication, University of Lagos (1972), Security Awareness Seminar at the Institute of International Affairs, Vic­toria Island Lagos (1980), Intermediate Command Course, Police Staff College, Jos (1981), Senior Command Course, Police Staff College, Jos (1986), posting brilliant results as the Commandant of West Riding Constabulary Train­ing School, Bishopgate, Wakefield, UK, testified in a May 5, 1967 report: “A sincere student with a courteous and pleasant manner who set a good example by his determination to give of his best and gain maximum benefit from the course. “He followed lectures closely and enjoyed the opportunity for further research into criminal law and procedure. His questions and comments provoked many useful dis­cussions and he was adept at a concise summing-up which left little room for further argument. “His approach to practical problems was calm and ob­jective, and in staged exercises he took the lead with assurance and skill. He watched the specialists at work very closely, was quick to appreciate the value of scientific aids and took me­ticulous care in the preservation of exhibits. “In staged court proceedings he showed that he was not without ex­perience as a prosecutor but made the most of every opportunity to improve his technique. His cross-examination of witness was impressive and his arguments well-presented, indicative of correct research and preparations.

“Whilst on departmental and oth­er attachments his interests remained keen and critical, he observed careful­ly any points he considered of value and was not slow to ask questions on matters about which he was in doubt. “He appears to be an officer of distinct promise who should make progress in the service. “In final examination, he obtained 82% marks and was placed joint third in his class – an excellent and well deserved result. The average mark for this class was 70%”. He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) on November 25, 1969, Chief Superinten­dent of Police (CSP) on June 1, 1979, Assistant Commissioner of Police on March 1, 1983 and Commissioner of Po­lice in 1990. Thereafter, the policy of quota system in the Nigeria Public Ser­vice stagnated him for several years. Among his memorable assignments, Nwaozomaudoh saw action during the Nigerian-Biafran war, on the Ni­gerian side at the Nsukka, Enugu and Abakaliki sectors from 1968 to 1969. He also served as Assistant Commissioner of Police in Charge of State Criminal Investigation Department (State CID), Abeokuta, Area Commander in charge of Umuahia Police Zone and Deputy Commissioner in charge of Investiga­tion activities in Zone 6, Calabar. He was at various times Commissioner of Police in charge of Cross Rivers State Police Command, Calabar, Osun State Police Command, Oshogbo and Pla­teau State Police Command, Jos, and garnered rare experience as member of Committee for State Prerogative of Mercy, Ogun State (1984-1986), State Security Council, Cross River State (1992-1994), State Executive Council, Osun State (1994-1996), State Executive Council, Plateau State (1996-1998).

As should be expected, Nwao­zomudoh’s dazzling credentials and his singular attention to duty attracted several awards and honours, including General Service Medal, Republic Med­al, Nigerian Civil War Medal and Long Service Medal.

Nwaozomaudoh had a guiding prin­ciple; “that you don’t have to cheat to be a winner and you don’t have to steal to get enough”. A test came when as a Commissioner of Police, a wealthy Indian businessman came to his office in Osogbo one afternoon, presented a big brown envelope while making an illegal request. When Nwaozomau­doh rejected it, the Indian said, “Oga na dollar..o” but that got him nowhere. The business man went to the police authorities in Abuja and a very senior officer called Commissioner Nwao­zomudoh, ordering him to “take ac­tion” on the Indian’s request. When Nwaozomudoh was not cooperating, the boss fumed and threatened to que­ry him; he replied: “Sir, give me a query so that I will give reasons why I did not take action”. The matter died there. Nwaozomaudo had brought with him to the Police Force not just intelligence, animated industriousness, a friendly face to the public, committed leader­ship to the men and women fortunate enough to work under his command, he brought high integrity, too. In this, he remained a true ambassador of On­icha-Ugbo and St. Anthony’s College, retiring from the NPF on April 1, 1998 as substantive Commissioner of Po­lice (CP), after 35 years of meritorious service.

Nwaozomudoh the family man married Bridget Nwabuewele Nwao­zomudoh (nee Fejokwu) on December 14, 1969 and they were blessed with children. The pretty, cheerful, spirited and devoted wife, like her husband, continuously improved herself, rising from a Nigerian Certificate of Edu­cation holder to earn a First Degree from the University of Calabar, an M.Sc. in Guidance and Counseling from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, before retiring as a Secondary School Vice-Principal. This Lady of the Order of the Knights of St. John, one-time President, Senior Police Of­ficers’ Wives Association, Cross River and Plateau states, transited on April 1, 2015. Since then, this devoted hus­band and father has bluntly refused to remarry.

Today, Nwaozomaudoh has a rep­utable Asaba-based Law practice. He began his law studies at the University of London by correspondence. After three years’ effort the Federal Gov­ernment cancelled the programme. He started afresh at the University of Lagos but was transferred to Cal­abar midway through the course. The tenacious Nwaozomaudoh finally un­dertook and completed his law degree course at the University of Calabar, obtaining his Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) in 1993 and attended the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, in 1999 and was called to the Bar the same year.

Meet with this retired Commis­sioner of Police and his striking humility and enchanting simplicity shines through. Talk with him and his words, no golden nuggets of wisdom really, will put you at ease, solve your problem or rightly direct your steps. He also takes his “Diokpa” (elder) role seriously for he is a pillar in his Onicha-Ugbo community, the Asaba and Onicha-Ugbo Catholic Church and St. Anthony’s College Old Boys Association. He is the Legal Adviser of IZU-IKEI ANIOCHA-OSHIMILI, an association of elders devoted to the well-being of Aniocha-Oshimili people. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Calabar and still finds the time to play Table-Tennis and enjoys watching wrestling movies.

I pay homage to Barr. Chief Linus Okonkwo Dibie Nwaozomudoh, psc, LL.B., B.L., CP (retd.) as he turns 82 to­day. I say BRAVO to a great ex-student of St. Anthony’s College, Ubulu-Uku, an illustrious son of Delta state, an exemplary Police chief, a member of the Knights St. John International for the past 25 years. He is a shelter in the age of thunder, a man who refused to be veneer stuck with glue but is solid mahogany all the way through, whose guiding principle has been “Do your best and leave the rest to God”. In the poem “If”, Rudyard Kipling wrote: “If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings— nor lose the common touch, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!” So, today, I pay homage to Nwaozomaudoh – the exemplary Man!