By Maureen Chigbo PhD
Barrister Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo was a woman of substance – the founder of Trixtresse Associates Chambers, her law firm, a notary public, the former treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch, and also the former Vice President of the Catholic Lawyers Association of Nigeria. Nwamaka, the second child and the first daughter of late Pa Adolphus Nnaemeka Ikegbuna Chigbo, Okaa Onyeogadilimma of Abidi village, and Late Mrs. Victoria Chinelo Chigbo (nee Moughalu), and the granddaughter of Chief Mark Moughalu of Anaogu village and Ma Christiana Idemili (Mama Lagos) of Umuoli village, all in Umuoji in Idemili North of Anambra State, has been in legal practice since 2003 when she was called to the Bar. She was the external legal adviser to Bolton White Hotel, Abuja, until her untimely, gruesome death at the hands of kidnappers, who snuffed life out of her on January 5, 2026.
Princess of the Bar, as she was fondly called by her colleagues and friends, Barrister Chigbo, was, according to the Global Association of Female Attorneys (GAFA), a distinguished Nigerian Legal practitioner, scholar, and advocate whose life was marked by service, intellectual excellence, and an unwavering commitment to justice. Her unassailable footprints in the sands of legal practice were amply chronicled by GAFA, thus: “She was known for her quiet strength, disciplined professionalism, and a heart deeply invested in the dignity and protection of the vulnerable. Princess Mediatrix was trained in law with a passion that extended beyond practice into scholarship. At the time of her passing, she was an LL.M candidate at the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja, where she pursued advanced legal studies with uncommon diligence. Her academic journey reflected a mind committed to critical inquiry and a spirit eager to deploy the law as an instrument for social transformation. She was respected by her peers and lecturers alike for her intellectual clarity, humility, and consistency. As a legal practitioner, Chigbo distinguished herself by her ethical posture and commitment to excellence. She approached legal practice not merely as a profession, but as a calling – one that demanded integrity, courage, and compassion. She was particularly passionate about issues affecting women, children, and marginalised persons, and she consistently lent her voice, time, and expertise to causes that promoted access to justice and human rights protection.
She used her legal practice to represent the less privileged in society and had, on occasion, travelled to her hometown to offer legal services on a pro bono basis and also performed other community services to uplift the lives of the downtrodden.
This is why GAFA, where she was the International Secretary, described her as an active member of professional legal associations where she contributed meaningfully to advocacy, mentorship, and institutional development. Her colleagues remember her as calm yet resolute, gentle yet firm – someone whose presence inspired confidence and whose counsel was always thoughtful and principled – a woman who listened more than she spoke, but whose words carried weight when she did. Her life, though tragically cut short, was rich in meaning and impact. She was committed to justice, a scholar devoted to learning, and a woman whose legacy will continue to speak through the lives she touched and the values she embodied. Her memory remains a call to courage, integrity, and the relentless pursuit of justice.
Education and Career
Chigbo attended Pioneer Primary School, Odakpu, Onitsha, from where she entered Ujom Grammar School, Asaba, in elementary class five. Having cleared all her papers in one sitting of the West African Examination Council WAEC, she gained admission to study Food Technology at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, where she bagged a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Food Technology. She travelled to Kaduna State for the National Youth Service Corps and performed her mandatory one-year national service with the Kaduna Polytechnic, Tudun Wada, Kaduna South. Thereafter, she variously worked as a teacher at Saint Ann’s College, Kakuri, Kaduna, and ran her own private catering business before she gained admission to study Law at the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. On completion, she moved to Abuja for her Nigerian Law School mandatory vocational training. She attended the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) and was sworn in as a Chartered Mediator in 2016. Ever since that time, she had amicably resolved matters satisfactorily for parties in dispute. A hardworking lawyer with a scholarly disposition, she was an LLM candidate at the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja, before her untimely death.
Professional and Religious Affiliations
Princess belonged to many professional bodies, including the Global Association of Female Attorneys (GAFA), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Otu Okaiwu (Igbo Lawyers), 2003 Law Class, ABU, Zaria, African Women Lawyers (AWLA), and National Association of Catholic Lawyers.
Nwamaka exemplified fortitude, moral rectitude, and a deep faith in God amidst an avalanche of life’s vicissitudes that assailed her. She remained dogged, cheerful, and hardworking, believing that God would see her through despite odds. She believed so much in family and lived the Igbo saying of Onuluakwa nwanne gbata. Her beliefs are rooted in her being an ardent Catholic who actively belonged to many pious societies, including Holy Infant Jesus Society, Legion of Mary, Confrantanity of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, St. Joseph Association, Holy Face of Jesus (all in Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Procathedral, Area 3, Abuja), Sacred Heart of Jesus and Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi Community at St Mary John Vianney Catholic Church, Lugbe, Abuja. She authored a book on Infant Jesus and was so happy when the book was acknowledged at one of their Association’s prayer retreats a few years ago, and many members bought the book. In sum, she was a prayer warrior religiously.
With a strong sense of kinship, Nwamaka is an embodiment of humility, self-effacing, unassuming, forthright, disciplined, and very communal. She believes so much in communal life and will often times when she returns to the village will visit all members of her kinsmen when she returns to the village to felicitate with them and render help and advice where it is needed. A fearless and generous heart, she will not prevaricate in speaking the truth at all times, no matter whose ox is gored, and she gave her all to humanity in her search for justice for all and will rather go hungry than see a family or someone without food. Very gregarious, she epitomises a beautiful heart who adjusts as the situation demands to laugh with those celebrating their achievements and mourn with those mourning, and gives them words of comfort and encouragement, and will journey a thousand miles at great risk and personal discomfort to achieve these on numerous occasions. Unbelievably gifted, she could sew her clothes and easily whip up delicious, nutritious food to entertain visiting friends and family members, and she will not stop offering advice on how to eat well and maintain a healthy life-work balance. Her culinary gifts made her the Master baker of wedding cakes for family members who got married. In fact, some family members, both nuclear and extended, sought her out on festive occasions, especially Christmas, to have a taste of her deliciously baked cake. A very sensitive soul, she could easily be hurt and forgiving at the same time, offering everything to God, and some people took advantage of her kind nature. Her primary aim is to ensure everyone around her is happy at her own expense. She supported the work of all family members and was the greatest cheerleader of Realnews and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, whom she fought a professional battle to get them registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission. That is why the founders of GOCOP held her in high esteem. She will be missed by all who knew her, especially her immediate nuclear family. May her soul rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord God Almighty, the creator of Heaven and earth, who will not allow the murderers to escape justice that she stood for all through her legal practice. Amen. Adieu.
***The profile was written by Maureen Chigbo, PhD.