Iorhemen Hwande was born on 15th December, 1952, to Hwande Agakpa and Kpenjiren of Mbaikyon, Tsambe, Benue State, with Mrs. Masenengen Aba (nee Hwande) as his only sister.
His first School was in a Bible school at Taruku. He moved from there to Sudan United Mission Primary School Adeiyongo, in 1960. He had to move on again as the most senior class at Adeiyongo was primary four. He had to take an entrance examination into the senior Primary School at Mbaakon. He was successful and got admitted there in 1964. He proceeded to Government Secondary School Otobi now Otukpo to pursue his secondary school education where he completed his secondary education. He thereafter went to Kuru where he obtained his Higher School Certificate (HCS). He then proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he read Law. He attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978.
He took up a brief teaching appointment with NKST Secondary School, Adikpo, where he met with Iember Esther Orkeghen Guma. The courtship led to marriage on 28 October, 1978, while he was doing his mandatory youth corps in Port-Harcourt.
The Union is blessed with five children; Mrs. Awashima Ukpi, Mrs. Nguemo Bajah, Mr. Terhemba Hwande, Miss Wueseter Hwande and Vershima Hwande. Yua Ukpi, Nguvan Ukpi, Dondo Hwande and Uter Favour Ukpi are the grandchildren that God has blessed them with.
Upon completion of his youth service he picked up appointment as a magistrate with the judiciary. His first posting was in Oguma in Bassa Local Government Area of Benue State, a small inconspicuous town. His decision to resign was stopped by God who informed him that God was not asleep during his posting. He served for one year and was posted to Oju. A town not very different from Oguma. From there he was posted to Adikpo which afforded him a better opportunity to prove his worth. From there he was posted to Idah for a brief spell, before he was appointed Ag. Registrar in February, 1986. From that position he was elevated to the higher bench.
Following the retirement of Honourable Justice TUF Puusu as Chief Judge, Justice Iorhemne Hwande was called to act after Justice Ejembi Eko had exhausted his tenure as acting Chief Judge. He was made substantive Chief Judge on the 16th of April, 2006. A position he occupies till date.
In recognition of his hard work and dedication, he was conferred with the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) on 14th November, 2011, by His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
