Biography of Mr. S.A.K. Metseagharun

Mr. Samuel Anunu Kpoli Metseagharun was born on the first of July 1940 at Ogidigben, Ugborodo (Escravos) in Warri, South Local Government area, Delta State of Nigeria. His place of birth is the most strategic petroleum exploitation location in Nigeria with onshore and offshore operations, tank farms, pipelines etc.

He schooled at Baptist school, Ogidigben and African school, Warri between 1947 and 1954. In 1955, he was admitted into Academy Grammar School (now Okotie-Eboh Grammar School Sapele). Where he obtained his West African School Certificate with flying colours (Grade 1) in 1960. He also attended Co-operative College Ibadan in 1961 and obtained a certificate in co-operative studies in 1962.


45 years ago before oil was discovered in Escravos,
Mr Kpoli Metseagharun and his children
including S.A.K. Metseagharun

In his quest for knowledge and quality education, he gained admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1964 but during the Nigerian Civil War in 1966, he transferred to the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, where he obtained his Bachelor in Science (B.Sc Hons) degree in Accountancy in 1968. His first place of work after graduation was in Ososami & Co. Accounting Firm in Ibadan. From there, as a young graduate, due to his nature and love for his people he decided to return to Delta state to work with the Civil Service and was employed in the Board of Internal Revenue of the then Midwest State of Nigeria as an Inspector of Taxes Grade II, Warri Tax office on August 1st 1969 until December 1971.

In 1972, he travelled to the United Kingdom under the auspices of the Overseas Territories Income tax office in London and bagged a diploma in Income tax Law and practice with distinction.

On his return from the U.K, he was appointed as the officer-in-charge Tax office Sapele after which he was transferred to Benin city as the officer-in-charge of Tax office and was promoted to Inspector of Taxes Grade I in April 1974. During the same year, he was transferred back to Warri and promoted to Senior Inspector of Taxes in April 1975 due to his honesty, diligence and good conduct. He became officer-in-charge of Tax office in Agbor in1977 and was promoted to Principal Inspector of Taxes in 1980.

In February 1981, he was transferred to head the Tax Office, Ubiaja and was promoted to Assistant Chief Inspector of taxes until July 1983. Thereafter in August, he was made the officer-in-charge of Tax Office II, Benin City and later he became officer-in-charge of Tax Office I, Benin City in 1984.

In January 1986 he moved into the headquarters of the board of Internal Revenue, Benin City in various capacities and was promoted to Chief Inspector of Taxes. He became an assistant Director in 1988, being in charge of other Revenue Department until August 27th, 1991 when Delta State was created.

In September 1991, he became the Director of other Revenue Department, Internal Revenue Headquarters, Asaba and in 1992 he became the Director in charge of Income Tax.

At the peak of his career in the civil service, in January 1996, he became the Chairman/Administrator, Board of Internal Revenue, Delta State. His job took him to several parts of the federation including the north, the eastern states and Abuja, until his untimely retirement in 1997 at the age of 56 at the whim of the then military Administrator of Delta State Colonel J.D Dungs.

Mr. Samuel A.K. Metseagharun was a member of the Joint Tax Board, member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, University of Lagos Alumni Association, (Benin Chapter), and Okotie-Eboh Grammar School Sapele Old Boys Association (Benin Chapter). He was also a dedicated member of the Iwere cultural group, a cultural organization established in an attempt to save (albeit hopelessly) the Itsekiri Culture from extintion.

After his retirement, due to his reputation of honesty and intelligence, he was called upon to serve his community, Ugborodo (Escravos) by the elders and was elected as the Chairman of a reconstituted Ugborodo Community Trust Governing Council.

As the Chairman of the Ugborodo Community Trust Governing Council, he had a task of building a new Ugborodo town and a vision to make Ugborodo a tourist haven considering the fact that Escravos has a natural beach and magnificent mangrove vegetation. The task and the vision came to an abrupt end for him on the 23rd day of September 1998 when he was brutally murdered in public and in broad daylight by some indigenous people (including very close relatives such as a half brother) of Ugborodo, the same community he had good plans and visions for. It remains a great tragedy but not a mystery for a community such as Ugborodo to eliminate one of their prominent and virtuously reputed sons.

Until his untimely death, he was a devoted member of a local church. His belief and practice of honesty, sincerity, diligence, hard work and perseverance earned him his impeccable records whilst on earth. He has six Children.


When the going was good with some of his children