As Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, F-DRI marks his 63rd birthday, tributes pour in from across the state and beyond. One of the few lawyers from Northern Nigeria and the third Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Benue State, Aondoakaa has left an indelible mark on the sands of time.
On Sunday, June 30, 2025, Aondoakaa celebrated this milestone birthday with a Thanksgiving at Catholic Youth Centre Church in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, which brought together political gladiators across party lines. Guests praised Aondoakaa’s community service, particularly in promoting secondary school education.
In her tribute on Facebook, Miss Dooshima Uza described Aondoakaa as a shining star of the Inner Bar in Nigeria, with numerous achievements in law, education, and community service. She noted that his name is etched in gold in the annals of history and that she is proud to be associated with his illustrious profile.
At the Thanksgiving mass, Aondoakaa revealed that the then-governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, been a courageous man for insisting that the anti- open grazing law must be passed by the state Assembly.
He commended Ortom’s strength of character and called for unity among Benue stakeholders to tackle insecurity.
Senator Abba Moro, Senate Minority Leader, described Aondoakaa as a detribalized person who embraces all, citing his contributions to the development of Benue State. Senator Gabriel Suswam noted that Aondoakaa created employment opportunities for Benue indigenes during his tenure as Minister and through his MICAP rice processing company.
Former Governor Ortom aligned himself with calls for unity to end the ongoing security challenges in Benue State, warning against divisive rhetoric on social media. The Thanksgiving mass also featured fundraising for the completion of a hall project at the Catholic Youth Centre.
In his homily, Revd Fr Titus Igese commended Aondoakaa for seeking God’s face on his birthday and thanked him for postponing his celebration in light of the Yelwata community attack. The priest prayed for Aondoakaa’s continued good health and many more years ahead.