Comptroller of Customs, Pastor, and a Lawyer, Joseph F Brigue was born in Ugheli, Delta State in 1933. At the age of 14 he started his early education at Government College Ugheli and graduated in 1956. He joined the Nigeria Customs Service on the 1st of September 1956 and rose to the rank of Comptroller in 1978.
The senior officer became the first Controller of the Customs Training College as the controller training and staff development. He was there when Training College was moved from Harvey Road to Ikeja.
He was one of the pioneer instructors that taught preventive officers on technical aspects of the service operation at the merging of revenue and preventive departments of the Service. The likes of the former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar passed through him. He was transferred from the CTC to Tincan Island Port Command in May 1982 till 1984. He voluntarily retired from NCS in March 1986.
In his quest for education, Comptroller Brigue went and sent five years from 1976 to 1981 at the University of Lagos where he read Law. He spent six months at the law school.
In April 1977 God arrested him. He had in his own words a relationship through Christ. He is a staunch member of the Four Square Gospel Church. In 1985, he joined the highest organ of the Foursquare Gospel Church. He got a vision from God: my son build a bridge to take the weight of those suffering. Following this Christ experience he went to a seminary school after retirement and obtained Bachelor of Theology. He planted a church in Ajegunle area of Lagos and worked as pastor for 14 years. He handed over the church to a young person. He is a humble man. He left pastor job in 2012.
He got married on the 27th of December, 1995 to Mrs Philomena Brigue. Rev Barrister Comptroller James Fekarurogbo (Does Ughrobo lack money) Brigue and Mrs Philomena have 8 lovely children. He is a happily retired man. He has written 8 books including one written in 1993 about Alhaji MKO Abiola.
According o him, his main source of income is pension from the Nigeria Customs Service. I learnt these words of wisdom from him on my visit with the DC enforcement Aliyu Gambo : Go there and make a career so that you can finish well. Have a good heart. Don’t be lazy. Don’t steal to plan your life. Plan to plan your life.
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