Born on April 26, 1960 in Okambi Village, Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State. His Lordship began his formal education at St. Charles Primary School, Obudu, and continued at St. Michael’s Primary School, Okambi, and St. Benedict’s Primary School, Igoli-Ooja. He proceeded to Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Obudu, and later Mary Knoll College, Okuku, Yala, where he completed his secondary education. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B. Hons.) degree from the University of Calabar in 1985 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in October 1986 after completing studies at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos. In pursuit of academic excellence, he earned a Master of Laws (LL.M) in International Trade Law from the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom in 2003.
Hon. Justice Agim began his legal career in private legal practice between 1987 and 2000. During this period, he made a notable mark in Cross River State’s legal landscape, particularly through his fearless advocacy for judicial integrity. As Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ogoja Branch, he challenged the perceived corruption within the state judiciary during the 1996/1997 legal year, which led to the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry by the then Military Governor.
From 2000 to 2004, His Lordship served as Director of Public Prosecutions in the Republic of The Gambia. He was appointed Justice of the Gambian Court of Appeal in 2004 and later became its President. He also served as a Justice of the Gambian Supreme Court and was appointed Chief Justice of The Gambia from 2009 to 2012. Hon. Justice Agim also served as Justice of the Supreme Court of Swaziland between 2010 and 2014.
His Lordship’s tenure in The Gambia was marked by profound judicial reforms. He led efforts to restructure court administration, improve access to justice through the establishment of Islamic and Children’s Courts in the provinces, and enforce ethical standards across the judiciary. Under his leadership, the Gambia Law School and the Judicial Education Institute were established, and a unified code of Islamic personal law was adopted for national use. He also chaired numerous bodies including the General Legal Council, National Judicial Service Commission, and the National Council for Law Reporting.
Upon his Lordship’s return to Nigeria, Hon. Justice Agim was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2012 and served meritoriously until his elevation to the Supreme Court of Nigeria on November 6, 2020. A legal scholar of note, Hon. Justice Agim has authored several important texts, including The Gambia Legal System, Pre-Trial Criminal Processes in Commonwealth States: The Gambia Experience, and Gambia Criminal Appeals Cases Digest. He is also a co-author of the Commonwealth Guidelines for the Treatment of Crime Victims. He has lectured at the University of The Gambia, the Gambia Law School, and the West African Insurance Institute.
Hon. Justice Agim’s exemplary service has been recognized with numerous national and professional honours. His Lordship is a recipient of the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), conferred by the President of Nigeria, and the Order of the Republic of The Gambia (ORG), one of the highest honours of that country. He has also received accolades from the Nigerian Bar Association and the University of Calabar Alumni Association, among others.