Christopher Okoro Cole

Christopher Elnathan Okoro Cole, CMG OBE (April 17, 1921 – 1990^[1][2]) was a Governor-general and President of Sierra Leone for a few days in 1971. Cole was appointed officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1965 for "Public services as minister without portfolio"^[3] and inducted as a companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1973.

In a complicated process of constitutional change when the Sierra Leonean monarchy was abandoned in early 1971, it was provided that Siaka Stevens, Prime Minister of that time, would become the President. Cole, who had been appointed interim Governor-General on March 31, would serve for two days as the acting president. Thereafter, he reverted to his earlier post of Chief Justice of Sierra Leone. He was also Sierra Leone's first United Nations Permanent Representative of New York and a member of the Lancaster delegation that signed the independence document from Great Britain.

Details

• Born on 17 April 1921 at Waterloo, Sierra Leone.
• Educated at Seventh Day Adventist School Waterloo, Buxton Memorial School, Freetown, C.M. S.G.S., London School of Economics, London University.
• Graduated LLB.
• In 1946 called to the Bar at The Middle Temple.
• 1946-1951: Back in Sierra Leone set up private practice.
• 1947-1951: Part-time lecturer in law. Department of Economic Studies, F.B.C..
• 1953: City Solicitor.; Police Supreme Courts 1952. Commissioner of Oaths. Crown Counsel.
• 1956: Promoted Solicitor General.
• Acted as Attorney General on a number of occasions.
• Ex-official Member of Executive and Legislative Council.
• Represented Sierra Leone at "The Future of Law in Africa" Conference in London under Chairmanship of Lord Denning.
• 1960: Appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone.
• 1962: Justice of Appeal, Court of Appeal of the Gambia. Acted as Chief Justice of the Gambia.
• In 1963 represented Sierra Leone at the "World Peace through Law Conference" in Athens.
• In 1965 represented Sierra Leone at the Commonwealth and Empire Law Conference held in Australia.
• In 1963 acted as C.J. of Sierra Leone on a number'of occasions.
• In 1965 awarded the O.B.E..
• In 1967 appointed Ambassador to the U.S.A. and Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York City.
• In 1968 headed Sierra Leone's Delegation to Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Law of Treaties held in Vienna.
• 1957-1968: Chancellor, Diocese of Sierra Leone.
• 1960-1961: Chairman, Cole Commission to inquire into accounts of Sierra Leone.
• 1969: Chairman, Judicial Service Commission, Chairman, Rules of Court Committee, Vice Chairman for Africa of t.e. World Association of Judges.
• January 1969, and September/October 1969: Officer Administering Government of Sierra Leone.
• June 1970: awarded the C.M.G..
• 1970: Appointed Chief Justice of Sierra Leone.
• October 1970 and March 1971: Acting Governor General.
• 19 April 1971: First President of the Republic of Sierra Leone
• Retired from Public Service in 1978.
• Married his four children.^[4]

References