By Ahmad Muhammad Danyaro

“All the rights secured to the citizens under the Constitution are worth nothing, and a mere bubble, except guaranteed to them by an independent and virtuous Judiciary|” Andrew Jackson.irria.

The judiciary in Nigeria, as established by Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, is crucial for interpreting laws, defending the constitution, and enforcing the rule of law. It acts as an independent arbiter, protecting human rights, settling disputes between government branches and citizens, and ensuring democratic accountability through judicial review.

According to the words of Ronald Reagan, Former President of the United States of America, “the greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does greatest things .He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.”

Ahmed Gambo Saleh ,Esq, is one of the most accomplished judicial administrators in Nigeria recognized for his transformational leadership, technical expertise and unwavering commitment to judicial reforms in Nigeria.

Since 30th June, 2017 when Ahmed Gambo Saleh took over as Secretary of the National Judicial Council, he has become a leading voice in shaping the future of the nation’s judiciary.

The National Judicial Council is one of the Federal Executive Bodies created by virtue of Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in order to insulate the Judiciary from the whims and caprices of the Executive; hence guarantee the independence of this Arm of Government, which is a sine qua non for any democratic Government. The National Judicial Council was created and vested with enormous powers and functions of the erstwhile Advisory Judicial Committee (AJC) which it replaced.

Ahmed Gambo Saleh, Esq, was born on June 3, 1969, in Hadejia, Jigawa State. He is a seasoned legal administrator with over 20 years of experience, who previously served as the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Saleh holds first and second degrees in Law from the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto and Bayero University, Kano, respectively.

He worked briefly as a Private Legal Practitioner before joining the service of Jigawa State Ministry of Justice as a Senior State Counsel in 1998, where he rose to become Director of Legal Drafting in 2002.

Mr. Saleh was a one-time Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dutse Branch in 2008.

In the later part of 2008, he was appointed as a Special Assistant to Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon .Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi ,GCON. Two years later, he was appointed the Deputy Director Litigation before his appointment as the 16th Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

It was during his tenure as the Chief Registrar that the process of Court Automation commenced, and the interviews of candidates who applied for the conferment of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) were streamed live on the website of the Supreme Court, to enable members of the public to view and assess the suitability or otherwise of qualified candidates to forestall allegation of bias or preferential treatment.

Mr Saleh introduced technologies which enabled the Courtrooms to connect to a unified system that has a central repository for all audio/video of proceedings. This includes: the transcripts, audio/video recording of any hearing, appearances and courtroom proceedings.

He also installed in the court a device called the document camera with the capacity to display exhbits ,which can be viewed by judges, registrars and lawyers. This device converts a paper document camera or physical exhibit to an electronic image with the aim to enlarge or reduce the image.

Ahmed Gambo Saleh, LL.B, BL, LLM combines years in Management and Administrative experience. He is a member of several professional bodies and has served on quite a number of Judiciary Committees, among which are: Secretary, Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee; Chairman, Chief Registrars of Nigeria Forum; Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Dutse Branch; Member, Presidential Swearing-in Committee – 2015; Member, Judiciary Information Technology Policy Committee; Member, Federal Judiciary Tenders Board; Secretary, Jigawa State Shari’ah Implementation Committee, etc.

To put Saleh’s commendable feat into proper perspective, the Office of the Secretary he currently occupies is the pivot around which all the activities of the National Judicial Council revolve. It is the administrative office of the Council. The Office co-ordinates and supervises all activities of the Council including Council Meetings, disbursement and monitoring of funds. The success or failure of the Departments & Units in the Council depends on the Office. The Office liaises with other Arms of Government and Agencies to achieve the goals of the Council, among others.

As NJC Secretary, he oversees administrative functions of the judiciary, including serving as Secretary to the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee.He continues to serve as a key administrative figure in the Nigerian judiciary.

Ahmed Gambo Saleh’s achievements as the Secretary of NJC are indelible and focused on areas characterized by technocratic, behind –the-secne reforms rather than high-profile public actions.

He is working assiduously to achieve the NJC’s set goals such as: an entrenched and preserved independent judiciary, a judiciary that is committed to the rule law, a financially autonomous judiciary, a proactive and vibrant judiciary that has judicial officers and staff with proven integrity and impeccable character, a dynamic judiciary manned by officers with various background, discipline, experience and competence and a judiciary that is information technology driven.

Humility is his defining character, Barrister Gambo Saleh is humble to a fault.God-fearing, gentle, peaceful, generous; yet unassuming and exceptionally intelligent. A natural leader and never pretentious. For anyone who knows Saleh, things are easily discernible about his character – humility, courage and a calm spirit.

As a scribe of NJC, an important arm of government –the judiciary – in the last nine years, it is on record that Gambo Saleh has brought new meaning to the position working diligently and honestly to enshrine a vibrant judiciary. To borrow from Greek writer Homer, “he is both a speaker of words of doers of deeds, benevolent and highly spirited.”

Danyaro is a Media and Public Affairs Specialist based in Abuja and can be reached via: @adanyaro202@gmail.com.

Hon (Amb) Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, has clearly emerged as one of the most celebrated, outspoken, dynamic, and eloquent members of the cabinet of Abba Kabir Yusuf, not only within government circles but across Kano State. This perfectly aligns with the expectations many of us held at the time of his appointment two years ago. Given his background, experience, and unwavering commitment to the people, it was evident that he would bring something exceptional to governance.

What truly sets Waiya apart, however, is not just his competence, but the rare confidence and closeness he enjoys with the Governor. He stands as one of the most trusted allies of His Excellency, someone who understands the Governor’s vision deeply and communicates it with clarity, conviction, and loyalty. His ability to interpret, defend, and passionately project the policies and intentions of the administration reflects a strong working relationship built on trust and mutual respect. In many ways, he operates not just as a Commissioner, but as a central pillar in advancing and protecting the image and direction of the government.

With his activism roots, intellectual depth, and fearless loyalty, Waiya has positioned himself as a “super Commissioner”, a dependable voice and a strategic force within the cabinet. As the KANO FIRST agenda unfolds, one cannot ignore his role as one of its foremost drivers, standing firmly beside the Governor and reinforcing his vision at every level.

We pray that Almighty Allah continues to protect and guide him, strengthen his capacity, and elevate him to even greater heights in service. Ameen.
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By Abba Anwar

The universal understanding of real life, that, one good turn deserves another, can comfortably be applicable to the Deputy Senate President, His Excellency Barau I Jibrin, CFR, particularly with prayers during this Holy Month of Ramadhan Fasting.

It can as well be applicable to almost all our political leaders, within the fold of All Progressives Congress (APC) here in Kano. But because of the limited space and time, I cannot mention all in this brief piece. My fundamental reason for limiting my piece on the DSP.

I just want, without much ado, touch some fundamental interventions of the Senator, which, to me, deserve sober reflection, commendation and good prayers for him to do more and be rewarded Divinely. To embellish that in a strengthened manner is timely and apt.

Without being clouded by feelings, emotions or impulses, Distinguished Senator Jibrin is not only a pillar, he is as well, a bridge builder, who cements and reinforces parts of the ruling APC for stronger ties and cohesion. Recent happenings within the fold of the party, cleared many doubts and concoctions. When I saw him exchanging banters and pleasantries with other top notch individuals around the corridor of APC power circle, it occurred to me that, leaders started filling cylinders and fixing correct blocks everywhere.

Coming back to the identified interventions and adorable actions, that pave way for requesting prayers for the DSP, let me begin with the most recent events. First and foremost, we all appreciate his magnanimity and humane contributions to the victims of Singa market inferno. Where he donated the large sum One Hundred Million Naira (N100m).

Secondly, in this row, is his jettisoning of his gubernatorial ambition, calling on His Excellency, the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to carry on, in search of second tenure. Many believe, he did that for absolute peace to reign in the party, the state and the polity in general. This singular action doused tension and internal rivalry.

He needs to be commended for the bitter decision. Which is characterized by bitter political realities. Though, some still believe that, the pronouncement was crafty and abstract. But his political actions immediately after that pronouncement, show clearly that, he spoke his mind and damn the consequences. It definitely takes great minds to act this way.

The same observers believe that, he did that because he was promised the position of Senate President, in the next dispensation. So from whichever angle you look at the prism, DSP Jibrin needs Divine intervention and more support. His is, supplication, supplication and supplication. In a tautologous style I say, prayers, prayers and prayers.

This brief piece does not concentrate only on his contributions while he is currently the Deputy Senate President. Some of the contributions I included were seen long before now. And I didn’t use any chronological order in presenting them here. So forgive my style of presentation. Is not intentionally done to dilly-dally with periscopic look/search of my readers.

For his great concern for the insecurity plaguing the state, he donated operational vehicles, to the Kano State Police Command. Where dozens of vehicles were given to help in taming the nefarious activities of the underworld. He didn’t stop at that, he donated over one thousand motorcycles to Police personnel in the state. With a special event that took place at the State Command, Bompai.

Under this, his specific contribution to Police Zonal offices and Divisional Police offices under his constituency, Kano North, is superb, encouraging and undisputed. He believes in strengthening our security agencies, for them to work harder for proper protection and security of our land. Some of the contributions around security system, are not for public eyes or ears. For security reasons also.

His strong feeling in the education sector, being the engine room for genuine development, his intervention in the sector speaks voluminously. From his hands in the structural development in the sector, to his enhanced support for individual students, Senator Jibrin, is building indelible mark of honour. Under many platforms.

To begin with individual students (beneficiaries), in the education sector, the people’s Senator sponsored 70 students under his programme of Foreign Postgraduate Scholarships. And modern fields of study were their chosen areas.

They are currently abroad studying AI Machine Learning, Cyber Forensics, Robotics Engineering, Software Engineering, Chemical Engineering, among other influencial courses. The scholarship is fully funded, with tuition, feeding, medicals, flights and allowance. This is DSP for you. I think he deserves our prayers. True or false?

Payment of scholarship allowances to 4,183 students of the Federal College of Education, FCE (Technical), Bichi. Whereas the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (₦50,000) is awarded to each undergraduate students. While the sum of Twenty Thousand Naira (₦20,000) is given to each student studying National Certificate of Education (NCE).

In Bayero University, Kano, 1,052 students were awarded with the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira
(₦50,000) for each and every student. As 1,000 undergraduate students of benefited as their scholarship award in
Federal University Dutsin-Ma.

As 300 beneficiaries for Domestic Postgraduate Scholarships
Across top Nigerian universities were sponsored with full scholarship also. First Batch 99 percent completed. 1,000 indigent students were given the sum of Twenty Thousand Naira (N20,000), to each student who study at Northwest University, Kano.

Another set of 870 students of Northwest University, Kano were awarded with the sum of Twenty Thousand Naira (N20,000) to each student. While before that, another set of 628 undergraduate students of Bayero University, Kano, were awarded with the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) to each of the students.

Without fear of mincing words, or acrobatic expression, my reader can accept my suggestion that DSP deserves standing ovation, genuine appreciation, well wish and prayers. Especially in this Holy Month of Ramadhan. Yes, being a human being, he may err, in some areas. But let’s concentrate on his good sides, circumstances and styles.

Still in the education sector, let’s look at some, very few, of his contributions in the area. His effort in the establishment of Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo, is not only commendable, but a true legacy of a great man. Come to think of development of education, job opportunities, fight against youth restiveness, among others.

He effected the establishment of dozens of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Satellite Campuses across the 13 Local Governments under his Constituency, Kano North. This enhances pursuance of knowledge by his people. In his immediate Constituency. Not to talk of the simplification process of this onerous effort.

To further improve the progress of our youth across the state, he singlehandedly strive and saw to the establishment of Satellite Campuses for Federal University Dutsinma, (FUDMA), in Kano. That is why we have hundreds of students of FUDMA studying in Kano. Almost all of them are sponsored by the Senator for their undergraduate programmes.

To strengthen the commitment of the party leadership to the party philosophy and manifestation, Senator Jibrin was frequent in his distribution of vehicles and other forms of transportation to leaders in his Constituency. For them, the party leaders and elders, could do more and sacrifice a lot to the survival of the party.

He repeated the same gesture recently in his donation of vehicles to APC leadership in his constituency. And donation of vehicles to the local governments Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and Secretaries. To enhance local government administration.

In the area of specific humanitarian services, Distinguished Senator Jibrin, saved the people of Bagwai and surrounding areas from menace frequent canoe mishaps in Bagwai river, that was visiting the people of the area in different occasions. He bought modern canoes to save the situation. Since then, we didn’t hear of any mishaps again. He saved the lives of many. This gentleman deserves our prayers, anyway.

For the overall development of our region, North West, DSP pushed hard, conceived the idea of development agency, when he presented a Bill for the establishment of North West Development Commission (NWDC) to the floor of the Senate. He sponsored the Bill, toiled over it, labored for it and, along others, gave birth to it. As he strived to see the passed Bill, then, got Presidential stamp. What remains now, is the take-off of the Commission.

Anwar writes from Kano
Friday, 20th February, 2026