Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Federal Capital Territory ( FCT ) Abuja, Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf has eulogized late Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim CON, SAN FCIARB, FNIALS saying he was a just and transparent man who made a different during his sojourn on earth and in the course of his law practice.
Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf made this known on Thursday 24th February, 2022 at the memorial lecture organized by body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria Abuja Chapter, in honour of late Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim CON, SAN FCIARB, FNIALS held at Musa Yar’dua Centre, Central District Abuja.
Speaking further, Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf, described Late Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, as a man who was not just lover of justice but a man who has empowered men and women cutting across diverse tribes in Nigeria.
Described as a lover of God also, Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf said, late Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim’s indefatigable effort which led to the erection of a befitting Ministry of Justice was a singular effort of the falling hero that will stand a test of time.
Earlier, there was a lecture titled ” Towards An Effective Justice Delivery System In Nigeria ” by a Guest Lecturer Prof. Epiphany Azinge, OON, SAN, FNIALS, Former DG, Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and currently, a Lecturer at Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
In his comprehensive lecture Prof. Epiphany Azinge identified many issues standing against effective Justice delivering in Nigeria to include: crowded dockets where a judge is having up to 500 to 2,000 cases to preside over, Judges over burden, dilapidated court rooms, ill motivated Judges, lack of automated system in court process as in China, India, Singapore and other parts of the world, unnecessary applications of adjournment cases by lawyers to Judges which leads to commercial bargaining between the Lawyers & Judges, lack of specialization by Judges which often causes delay in Justice delivering, among other impediments.
Prof. Epiphany Azinge recommended that, effort should be made to employ more judges to tackle the issue of over crowded dockets, Court rooms should be renovated or rebuild to motivate judges and other staff, Judges should be given appreciable salaries and allowances, Lawyers should be called for punishment for misleading client, Judges should be trained and retrained in their area of specialization and judicial process should be automated as already stated by Lagos state Government.
Prof. Epiphany Azinge concluded that if only his recommendations are implemented, there will be effective Justice system in Nigeria in the nearest future most especially that the world is advancing towards blockchain technology where most tasks are being performed by artificial intelligent.
There were goodwill messages from Chairman Hon. Justice Dr. Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad CFR, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Uwais, Governor of Kogi State ( represented by the Secretary State, Mrs Bola Shade) Body of Benchers, Family members, Friends and well wishers.
The occasion was witnessed by eminent sons and daughters of Kogi state to include J.S Okutepa, Senator Nicholas Ugbane, Engr Ibrahim, Hon. Tom Zakari , Hon. Zakaraia, Chief Judge of Kogi State, Mr Richard as well as who is who in legal arena in the country.
Mr Rotimi SAN who worked closely with late Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim gave vote of thanks and went down memory lane to extol the deceased unique quality whom he described as a transparent and just man who hated corruption with all passion.
Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim CON, SAN FCIARB, FNIALS, Was born on the 14th of January, 1939.
After his primary Education at NA Primary School Okaba which he later completed same at Dekina in the present Kogi State, he proceeded to the famous Government college Keffi for his Secondary Education.
Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, subsequently, attended City Technical College Gloucester in United Kingdom between 1959 to 1961 and also attended the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, London between 1961 to 1963.
He was thereafter called to the English Bar same 1963 and practiced in Chambers in England before returning to Nigeria.
Upon his return to Nigeria, he attended Nigerian Law School and was called to Bar in 1964.
Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, later joined the public service in 1964 as an Assistant Legal Adviser and rose to become Senior State Counsel in the Defunct Northern Nigeria.
Because of his adventurous nature, he ventured into private practice in 1973 which led to the establishment of the law firm of Abdullahi Ibrahim & Company which no doubt recorded milestones.
In 1982, he was admitted into the Inner Bar consequent upon upon his conferment with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
It is worthy of note that Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim CON, SAN FCIARB, FNIALS, who became fellow Chartered Institute of Arbitrator at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies was also the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Northern Nigeria.
Before he was appointed as Attorney General and Minister for Justice of the federal Republic of Nigeria, he was on two occasions in the course of his private practice called by Nigerian Government to serve as Federal Minister for Education, Science and Technology as well as Minister of Transport & Aviation all from 1997 to 1999 under the then President Olusegun Obansojo.
Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, held many important positions too numerous to mention including but not only Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association – Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee between 1999 to 2001…
Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, retired from active service in 2015 though still continued to consult on legislative / matters and participate on several arbitral panels.
In recognition of his service to the Nation, he was conferred with the honour of officer of the Federal Republic ( OFR ) and subsequently, commander of the Order of the Niger ( CON ) by the federal Government of Nigeria; he also held the honour of GRAND CRUZ de la Order de la independencia de Guinea Ecuatorial conferred on him by the Government of Equitorial Guinea.
He was a Commissioner of the International – National Boundary Commission, and was a member of the Nigerian team that negotiated the Maritime Boundary Treaty between Nigeria and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the Unitization Agreement of the Zafiro/Ekanga Oil Fields.
He was the agent and later co-agent in the dispute between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon at the International Court of Justice at The Hague.
Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, who was successfully married with children and grandchildren passed on 24th January 2021 at the age of 82.
From all of us at OurWorldGist we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Government of Nigeria, Kogi State as well as his immediate family to bear this irreparable loss.
