Opinion

The Laxity In The Latitude Of Legal Advise

Published

4 years ago

February 19, 2021

By Bala Ibrahim.

Lawyers describe legal advice as the professional opinion regarding the substance or procedure of the law, in relation to a particular factual situation. It is therefore an advise given based on the analyses carried out on a set of facts, which would permit for a decision to be taken on a specific course of action, in compliance with the applicable law.

The person who gives such advise is called the legal adviser. The advised is called the advisee. Between the advised and the advisee, there is expected to be a high degree of trust, confidence and firm belief in the reliability of information.

The advisee gives the adviser the latitude out of the confidence that he or she would act in line with the truth, as sworn to in the oath of office. Anything done in the contrary, amounts to abuse of trust, which may arise, probably out of the need for exploitation, by selfishly taking advantage of the perceived laxity of the advisee.

NIGERIA AT 60: LET’S BLAME THE PRESIDENT

In Nigeria today, as the elected President of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the head of state and who exercises authority over the governance of the country, is largely dependent on the advise of selected and not elected advisers, amongst whom is a legal adviser.

Although he is not under any obligation to abide, or necessarily oblige the advise of any adviser, but when it comes to the advise of a legal adviser, it would be foolhardy for him to ignore, or become apathetic, because everything in governance rallies round the rule of law, which occupies a position of unlimited importance. This gives the Attorney generals or legal advisers a large level of latitude to leverage upon.

Since the return to democracy in 1999, Nigeria has had more than eight Attorneys general, including the present one, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, of which the last three were seen to be the most powerful in terms of links, leeway, latitude and the leverage to give legal advise to the president. But the end became bad for them, because they were accused of the abuse of office, by misleading the Presidents through wrong, selfish or ill legal advises.

By virtue of the confidence and trust placed on them by the President, some of the Attorneys general or legal advisers are accused of acting at variance with propriety, by misleading the President to act in ways that are unfairly to their own selfish benefit. This makes some of them behave like mini Gods, in the course of which they create unnecessary enemies for themselves and the President, their principal.

The immediate past Attorney general, Mohammed Bello Adoke, is still facing charges in court, after surrendering himself from a self exile abroad. This goes to underscore the inevitability of nemesis, which is always there to support the law of Karma, that whatever happens to a person, happens because he or she caused it with through his or her actions.

In Nigeria’s situation today, unless Attorney general Abubakar Malami, SAN, works hard and fast, to disabuse the minds of the general public, through effective evaluation and control of the circulating cynicism, the country would continue to question his conscience, particularly as it affects the credibility of the legal advises he gives the President.

Malami may be doing justice to whatever assignment he is given, but as a lawyer, he knows better than me, that, justice is done only when it is seen to be done. Suspicion, accusations and misgivings would continue to trail Malami’s actions, whenever he gives advise to the President and the outcome of the President’s action tilts in favour of his considered interest.

PMB had acted on many occasions in manners that brought those actions to undue doubts and disrespect, by people that hitherto held the President in esteem. The general believe is that those actions were carried out on the legal advise of Malami, as the Attorney general of the Federation. Pursuant to such actions, the AGF lost respect for self, and by extension respect for the country.

For the first time in the history of the Nigeria Police, the office of the Inspector General of Police went to court with the Police Service Commission on matters of recruitment. That embarrassment was alleged to be on the advise of Malami, as Buhari’s legal adviser.

There are some silent actions that negatively rubbed off on the President, which were allegedly carried out on the legal advise of Malami, including the three months ridiculous extension given to IGP Adamu Mohammed. If extension of tenure is to be given, the reasonable mind would have thought it would be for a minimum of one year. For anything meaningful to be done during the extension, three months is simply unreasonable, absurd and perceived to be preposterous.

It is an open secret that Malami is eyeing the position of the Governor of Kebbi state, and in the pursuit of this endeavour, he can not claim to be unaware of what had happened to his predecessors, and the inevitability of collusion with the law of Karma.

There is a cliché that is indirectly accusing the President of laxity, and directly questioning the latitude given to Malami as the legal adviser, and currently circulating in the social media, accusing him of misleading the President in the appointment of the new substantive chairman of EFCC, young Abdulrasheed Bawa. Malami is accused of nepotism in picking Abdulrasheed, who is alleged to be his nephew.

The cliché is calling on the Senate to do the needful, and it reads:

ATTORNEY GENERAL MALAMI HAS MISLED THE PRESIDENT BY NOMINATING UNQUALIFIED EFCC CHAIRMAN

The 40 year old Abdulrasheed Bawa, a relation to the Attorney General and Minister for justice, Malami, is not qualified to be the Efcc Chairman:

– He was recruited into Efcc in 2004/5
– He spent ONLY 16 years in the Commission
– He is on grade level 13

According to Efcc Establishment Act, Section 2a (ii) the Chairman to be appointed should :

“be a serving or retired member of any security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent”

Such equivalence in the Efcc is Grade Level 15, and Bawa is on Gl 13 !!!

The Efcc Law is an Act of National Assembly hence Senate must not over rule itself by breaching a critical provision in the appointment of Efcc Chairman.

The Attorney General has violated the law and misled the President in sending an unqualified nomination to the Senate for confirmation in his bid to prepare ground to be the Governor of Kebbi State come 2023.

HELP SHARE UNTIL THE SENATORS ACT RESPONSIBLY.

Opinion

Let President Tinubu Rename University of Lagos After Gowon, Not Abuja

Published

5 days ago

December 18, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

Adnan Mukhtar Tudun Wada

I was not happy when Northwest University Kano was renamed to Yusuf Maitama Sule University, as student leaders of that University then, we followed the interest of the students who were also not happy with the renaming at that time for one reason; the renaming was politically motivated, to hurt the founder of the institution Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. I was busy mobilising students to protest, the next day I was invited to the DSS for questions where I spent hours and all the people we were mobilising the protest together ran and dissociated themselves from it. I have no option but to plead with the DSS to release me, assuring them that not a single student would protest the government’s action.

The renaming has affected many students who are seeking admission abroad; it’s Northwest University on my transcript and Yusuf Maitama Sule University on my certificate. This is kinda confusing and not good at all.

Politicians should immortalise individuals in their new projects not existing ones. The renaming of the University of Abuja to Yakubu Gowon University is not good for the university’s alumni.

The President should have found a new project or built a new University by naming it after the former Head of State.

I don’t support the idea of playing politics by renaming our universities and this happens mostly in Nigeria.

Imagine waking up renaming the University of Maiduguri to Mohammed Goni University, Yobe State University to Ibrahim Geidam University, the University of Ibadan to Abiola Ajimobi University, the University of Lagos to Lateef Jakande University.

It will be bad for the alumni of the aforementioned universities to come across this.

Why is this only happening in Africa? Look at Makerere University in Uganda, it was established in 1920 but despite Yoweri Mosevenni’s long reign; he didn’t for once attempt to change it to even his name for selfish reasons.

He didn’t think of renaming the Entebbe International Airport after him but in Nigeria, we have this culture of renaming everything after individuals.

If you want to be immortalised, leave a lasting legacy as Gowon did in establishing NYSC. That enough is Okay and better than naming an institution after him.

President Tinubu should have renamed the University of Lagos after Gowon, not Abuja. I’m sure his people will reject this not for any reason but because of the large number of people that will be affected by it.

The University of Abuja Alumni were all crying over this painful decision.

Opinion

Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya: Champion of Civil Society and Good Governance in Northern Nigeria

Published

6 days ago

December 16, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, is an influential Civil Society figure in Kano State and Northern Nigeria. He is currently serving as the Executive Director, Citizens for Development and Education (CDE), he has dedicated many years of his civil society activism as advocate for the promotion of democracy, good governance, anti-corruption, peace building and women empowerment

Amb. Waiya, holds number of academic qualifications, including a Higher National Diploma in Public Administration from Kano State Polytechnic, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, Master’s in Public International Law at Maryam Abacha, American University, Maradi, and he is currently pursuing a doctor of philosophy at Skyline University, Kano in International Relations

In the course of his career, he held several positions and managed a number of projects. He served as the Director, Alhilal Foundation, from 2003 to 2007, an organization which focused on women empowerment, through basic literacy and skills acquisition. He later coordinated the North West Zonal Office of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Foundation. Amb. Ibrahim Waiya, led and coordinated a number of Local Government Councils Elections Observation missions across 19 Northern states.

In 2011, Waiya managed the Campaign against Drug Abuse under the auspices of Northern Youth Assembly, a youth driven platform with leadership structures in the Nineteen Northern States. He served as Secretary, for both, Kano State Stakeholders Committee on Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign and Kano State Stakeholders Committee on Anti-Child Abuse, a project which was coordinated by the office of the Special Adviser, Child Welfare and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. His involvement in election observation coordination missions and various public engagements, highlights his commitment to civic engagement towards community development, democracy and good governance

Waiya’s extensive experience includes free consultancy support services to numerous Government Ministries and Agencies such as: Kano State Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development, Kano State Ministry for Community and Rural Development, office of the Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State on Child Welfare, Ministry for Special duties, office of the special adviser, joint security services. He has facilitated numerous training workshops and seminars, impacting his knowledge, skills, experience on the community, particularly for community based organizations

In recognition of his contributions, he was appointed to several key positions, such as the President, of the Kano Civil Society Forum, Chairman of the Conference of Northern States Civil Society Networks, Convener, Nigeria for Peace Project, Managing partner, United Nigeria Project, Head of Secretariat, Kano Peace Committee, Secretary General, National Action for Women Agenda,(NAWA), chairman, Board of Trustees, Northern Youth Assembly, (Majalisar Matasan Arewa) Fellow, Institute of Security and Strategic Studies, Fellow, Institute of International Peace and Secure Society, Fellow, Institute of Business Diplomacy and Financial Management, member, Commission of Inquiry on Missing persons, member, Implementation Committee, on the Recommendations of the Report of the Commission of inquiry on missing persons, member, Commission of Inquiry to investigate, various political violence and cases of missing persons, that occurred in the State from 2015 – 2023, member, Commission of inquiry to investigate protest, arson and destruction of public and private properties that occurred from 1st – 10th August, 2024 Amb. Waiya, served as Consultant on various government projects, such as: Kano State Security Trust Fund, Safe Corridor, Campaign against Drug Abuse, across the 44 Local Government Council Areas. Amb. Waiya”s active participation in peace building, policy advocacy and legislative reform has continued to impact positive change in Kano State, the North and Nigeria at large.

Opinion

“I Transition to PR and Digital Marketing to Transform Brands Globally” – Ibrahim Ayyuba Isah

Published

1 week ago

December 15, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

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As 2024 comes to a close, Ibrahim Ayyuba Isah reflects on his journey from journalism to public relations (PR) and digital marketing. With over a decade of experience in media and communications, Ibrahim’s transition was fueled by a desire to empower businesses—starting with Northern Nigeria but extending globally—to build impactful narratives and achieve sustainable growth.

“Every brand, regardless of location, deserves access to the tools and expertise needed to thrive in today’s fast-paced world,” Ibrahim says. “My goal has always been to bridge the gap in strategic communication, ensuring that no business is left behind.”

From Journalism to Strategic Communication

Ibrahim’s illustrious journalism career spans over a decade, during which he served as a Senior Reporter at TVC News, covering critical developments, including the Kano State Government House for three successive administrations. His work involved breaking major news stories, producing multimedia content, and engaging audiences through digital platforms.

“I’ve always been passionate about communication, but I realized I wanted to do more than report stories—I wanted to help brands craft their own,” Ibrahim shares. “That’s what led me to pivot into PR and digital marketing.”

To equip himself for this new journey, Ibrahim pursued advanced studies, earning a Master’s in Communication Studies and a Master’s in Public Relations from Bayero University, Kano. He further honed his expertise with a Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing from the London School of Business Administration and a Master Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Digital Marketing Skills Institute. These credentials underscore his commitment to mastering the art of strategic communication.

Empowering Brands Through Ayrah Media Concept

As the CEO of Ayrah Media Concept (AMC), Ibrahim leads a PR and creative agency that provides businesses with tailored solutions, including PR consulting, social media management, corporate campaigns, and digital marketing.

“My vision is to empower brands to connect with their audiences, tell compelling stories, and achieve global relevance,” Ibrahim explains. “Through AMC, we’re showing businesses—whether in Northern Nigeria or beyond—that they can reach new heights with the right strategies.”

In 2024, AMC worked on several impactful campaigns, including Ibrahim’s role as a Lead Consultant for the WOFAN-ICON2 project in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, where he developed and executed PR and communication strategies to amplify the project’s impact.

Changing Perceptions and Building Bridges

Transitioning into PR and digital marketing came with challenges, including shifting perceptions about its value.

“Many businesses see PR and digital marketing as optional rather than essential,” Ibrahim says. “But the results are transformative. Strategic communication is not just about visibility; it’s about building trust, credibility, and lasting connections with your audience.”

This philosophy drives Ibrahim’s approach, ensuring that businesses of all sizes—whether local startups or established corporations—can access high-quality PR and marketing services.

Looking Ahead

Ibrahim’s vision for the future extends far beyond regional boundaries. While his roots and passion lie in Northern Nigeria, his focus is on creating strategies that resonate globally.

“Brands in Kano, Lagos, Abuja, or even New York share a common goal: to connect with people and make an impact,” he says. “My mission is to ensure that every business, regardless of size or location, has the tools and strategies to achieve that.”

In 2025, Ibrahim plans to document his professional journey in a book that will explore his experiences as a journalist and PR expert, offering insights into the evolving landscape of communication and its role in business success.

A Message of Gratitude

As he reflects on the year, Ibrahim expresses his gratitude to those who have supported his journey. “I’m incredibly thankful to my mentors, collaborators, and clients who have believed in my vision. Together, we’ve shown that impactful communication has the power to transform lives and businesses.”

With a clear vision and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Ibrahim Ayyuba Isah is poised to lead the way in redefining PR and digital marketing, not just in Nigeria but across the globe.