Fidelis Oyakhilome
| Fidelis Oyakhilome | |
|---|---|
 Military Governor of Rivers State
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In office January 1984 – 26 August 1986 |
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| Preceded by | Melford Obiene Okilo |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Ukpo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
13 April 1939 Ishan, Edo State, Nigeria |
Fidelis Oyakhilome (born 13 April 1939) was military governor of Rivers State from January 1984 until August 1986 during the administrations of Generals Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Babangida.
Oyakhilome was born on April 13, 1939 in Ewu, Ishan in Edo State. He joined the Nigerian Police Force in 1959. He studied Law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife (1965–1968) and then at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos (1968–1969), being called to the Nigerian Bar on graduation.
Oyakhilome became Chief Superintendent of Police, Criminal Investigation Division of the Rivers State Police, Port Harcourt (1972–1974). He served in Grenada (1975–1977). He became military governor of Rivers State in January 1984 after the military overthrow of the Nigerian Second Republic. On 19 April 1984, Oyakhilome signed the edict establishing the Rivers State School of Basic Studies, later to become the Rivers State College of Arts and Science in Port Harcourt. As governor he successfully increased agricultural output in the state. His "School to Land" program made headline news, but was later abandoned as enthusiasm waned. He was redeployed on 26 August 1986, replaced by Colonel Anthony Ukpo.
Oyakhilome was Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) (1988–1991). He was dismissed after being accused of having a relationship with Jennifer Madike, a Lagos business woman and socialite who had been arrested for drugs-related offences. Prior to her arrest, she had a successful career with her company "Biofrika Ventures" and through real estate, and was a constant subject of the gossip columns. She was arrested on a charge of collecting US$80,000 from three men, claiming she was going to give the money to Oyakhilome to secure the release of two suspected drug dealers. The United States later unsuccessfully applied for extradition of one of the dealers on charges of heroin smuggling.
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