That is the question on the lips of many. Where is Osayamon Ogbebor Michelle May, the wife of Olumide Akpata, a former president of the Nigeria
That is the question on the lips of many.
Where is Osayamon Ogbebor Michelle May, the wife of Olumide Akpata, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association and the gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party in the 2024 Edo governorship election?
Michelle has been missing in action since 2023, a year after she tied the knot in a lavish traditional marriage ceremony in Benin City and a destination white wedding, Mauritius to be precise.
All through the period Olumide campaigned to be governor, moving from one local government to the other, his wife was missing in action. This was quite unusual especially because politicians are known to show off their better halves during their campaign season with the sole aim of registering in the minds of voters, that they are responsible family men.
It is also an opportunity to have their better halves subtly appeal to the women folks and make them swing the votes in their favour.
This was not the case as Olumide campaigned all by himself and not once did Nigerians get a glimpse of his wife.
Similarly, on the day of the gubernatorial election where candidates openly make a show of going to cast their votes with their wives, Michelle wasn’t seen accompanying her husband to his pooling unit.
Then just a few weeks ago, tongues began to wag again about her whereabouts. This was during the service of songs/tributes night in honour of Olumide’s late father, Dr Henry Omorogieva Akpata which took place at Uyi Grand Marquee, GRA, Benin City, Edo State. Again, Michelle was conspicuously absent.
A cursory look through his social media pages didn’t turn up any answers as there are no recent pictures of her or both of them together, dating back to 2023.
Ironically, Michelle and Olumide dated for a while before they tied the knot on May 14th, 2022.
Michelle who hails from the influential Ogbebor Family of Bini Kingdom, Edo State has a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from the Queen Mary University of London and a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) from the University of Essex. She is a top executive and the financial markets legal adviser at the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, Nigeria’s Central Securities Depository (CSD), licenced to carry on the depository, clearing and settlement of all transactions in the Nigerian Capital Market.
Olumide on his part is a senior partner and the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group at Templars law firm in Nigeria. He is the first non-Senior Advocate of Nigeria president of the Nigerian Bar Association in July 2020. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in law from University of Benin, Edo state in 1992 and was called to the bar in 1993.
He began his legal practice in Delta state under the tutelage of Dr. Mudiaga Odje, SAN, OFR, who was one of the most seasoned litigators of his time. In 1996, Akpata relocated to Lagos and teamed up with his cousin, Oghogho Akpata, who had just set up the law firm Templars the previous year.
Akpata joined in the formation of Templars at the age of 23, and has grown the firm into what it is today, as one of the largest law firms in Nigeria with a workforce of about 100 lawyers, including two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, both of whom practice proficiently in diverse areas of Nigerian law.
