The Rt Hon. Zakawanu I. Garuba (of blessed memory) obtained his LL.B (Hons) from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 1989 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990. He practiced law widely in Nigeria as an Advocate, a Solicitor and a Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

In 2003, our founder took time off the business of law practice and decided instead, to represent his people as an elected member of the Edo State House of Assembly representing Etsako West Constituency 1 for the period 2003-2007. As a result of the good and worthy representation he provided, his kith and kin re-elected him into the House for the period 2007-2011. During his second sojourn as a lawmaker, he was deservedly elected as the Hon. Speaker of the House, a position he held and discharged meritoriously until 2010.

In 2013, He was appointed as an Executive Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by the President and Commander in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He successfully completed and without blemish his tenure in 2017.

Rt Hon. Zakawanu I Garuba returned to active legal practice thereafter and worked assiduously to build the firm into one of the biggest in Nigeria’s Capital City. Unfortunately he answered the call of God on the 17th of July, 2020, thus his dreams of attaining the highest rank and honour in the Legal Profession was cut short.

During his life time, He was a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NBA (2010 – 2012), International Bar Association (IBA) and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK).

Our late Founder/Principal Partner’s practice focused mainly on the following areas: Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation, Election Petition Matters, Debt and Asset Recovery, Corporate Compliance and Property Law, Family Law, Oil and Gas Disputes, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Arbitration and Capital Market, amongst others.

He was widely travelled and attended several top executive management and leadership programs which sufficiently equipped him with the requisite skills, knowledge and competence that are reflected on the overall image of the firm today.

The Rt Hon. Zakawanu I. Garuba (of Blessed memory) was a Philanthropist who assisted persons of all tribes, sex and religion without discrimination. He provided employment for many in the Edo State Judiciary, Ministry of Education (Teaching), Local Government Council, the Edo State House of Assembly, Securities and Exchange Commission,  the Federal Civil Services and in his Law Firm (Zacks Garuba & Co).