Mbanefo returned home to Nigeria and set up practice in his hometown of Onitsha, the first recorded lawyer in the area.
By virtue of this status, he developed an incredibly successful practice, with clientele largely sourced from his kinsmen who were an extremely resourceful breed of wealthy traders and also as a result of the frequent land disputes arising as a matter of course in the territory.
It is reputed that while such disputes had previously been settled by Tribal warfare, they were now being resolved in the arena of the Law Courts by an indigenous and competent gladiator – as Mbanefo undoubtedly was.
[2] In 1961 he was Knighted by the Queen and assumed the title which he proudly answered until his death: Sir Louis Mbanefo, Kt.
History will judge Sir Louis and Major-General Philip Effiong as men of sterling courage and integrity who effectively negotiated an end to hostilities.
[4] Upon the cessation of the war, Sir Louis resigned his appointment to the bench on principle, but this was not accepted by the Nigerian Government for some time.