'I cannot be used for any evil' M.O. Abubakar, CP Lagos State

On 11th January, 2008, the honourable Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr. M.D. Abubakar granted the Squib a seventy minute long interview. The interview which took place in the Commissioner’s office showed an ebullient, forthright and a rather intellectually disposed cop in the officer. He spoke on his long career in the Nigeria Police which started in 1979 and discussed his organization passionately vis-a-vis society and government amongst other things.

A widely traveled man, Commissioner of Police Abubakar at the end of the interview did not appear to the Squib as one of the run of the mill senior police officers. This magazine wishes him the very best in his latest assignment in the Nigerian Police. Please read on. Below are the excerpts.

SQUIB: Good evening sir,
C.P: You are welcome.
SQUIB: Sir, you are the latest Commissioner of Police for Lagos State. Can we know a little about you?
C.P: MD Abubabar is my name. Born 15th May, 1960. Studied Criminology and Criminal Justice Administration {Masters Level} at the University of Lagos. I did Marketing. I did Public Administration. I did Political Science long time ago.
SQUIB (cuts in): As an undergraduate?
C.P: Yes. I’m from Gusau, Zamfara State. That’s my town. I de-emphasize the state where I come from because I believe in the unity of Nigeria. I am a member of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies [NIPSS] Kuru, Jos. I am a fellow of the Nigerian Chartered Institute of Economics. So, because I believe in the unity of Nigeria, that’s why I usually say I don’t have a state. I think Nigerians should work hard and co-operate so that we will look like other countries of the world.
SQUIB: Before you became the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, what was your career path like?
C.P: Well, you see emm… after I passed out, I worked briefly in the State CID at Markudi, that was my first location. After one year; I went to Scotland Yard in England.
SQUIB: When was that?
C.P: In 1982. I was privileged to go to the Metropolitan Police College in England and the Malaysian Police College where I did the MPF training (Mobile Police Force) in 1983. I was in Kebbi before I moved on to the Intelligence Department, we call it CIB (Criminal Intelligence Bureau). While at the CIB, I went to a Polytechnic in Cairo in 1986. I attended courses in Welshfield and Yorkshire in England. Then I went to Israel Command Force in 1996. I equally have a Diploma in International Business Management, also from Israel. I went to the Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] Department in United States. Then from there, I was growing through the career.

In 1991, I went for an international security course in England that took me to eleven countries of the world. When I came back, I was posted to the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Police, CID in Sokoto. I attended my regular police training at the Police Staff College; A-course, B-course, Intermediate Command Course and Command Course at different intervals. Then in 1993, I came back to Lagos. I was an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal Operations, Force Headquarters, Kam Salem House. From there, I was posted to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMA) Ikeja as Airport Commander also in 1993. By virtue of my position as Airport Commander, I had the opportunity of traveling to most airports of the world to do Security understudy in terms of the security of the airports. Then, I became the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the airport.

I was promoted in the year 2000 and was transferred to Plateau State as Commissioner of Police. I was CP Plateau, Abia, Kwara and Kano States. I came back and became CP, MMA Airport again because when I was at the airport, I was writing proposals that the airport should be upgraded to a level of a command in view of the nature of what I saw and taken into consideration acts of terrorism, normally a threat to most airports of the world. I can say I am glad and very grateful to the almighty God for being with us. Some of my colleagues don’t have the opportunities to do that.
I can say without doubt, I have commanded the most populous states in Nigeria (Lagos and Kano). Lagos and Kano are the most problematic, most difficult and most challenging states in Nigeria.

SQUIB: How do you mean most populous, most difficult?
C.P: Lagos and Kano are the most populous states in the country; most challenging, most problematic and most complex. You know when I say most challenging, it is in the sense that population is a determining factor that has to do with crime. Because in the area of unemployment and high level of poverty, you know what that means to the society. So you have the contending role of ensuring that those who are not employed do not infringe on other people’s rights by taking their properties, harassing or molesting them.

Let us take for example the issue of traffic, the volume (both human and vehicular) in Lagos and Kano. I think these two states can share the highest volume. Today, Kano has 44 Local Government Areas even after Jigawa State was carved out of it. From one LGA to another, you can spend up to 4 hours to drive there! So big.

Any day, Monday through Friday, you will be wondering where the human beings are coming from. One of my friends once said whether they are being dropped from upstairs. Because, the kind of the situation in Kano is the same with that of Lagos. And I say challenging because you can see the challenges you have in Lagos. Area boys scourge alone is a problem. For you to be able to tackle the problem of area boys, for them not to harass, molest anybody and you want them to go and sit down doing nothing when they have no food to eat and have no shelter, is really a challenging one. And they (Lagos and Kano) are equally commanded by the largest number of police force in terms of personnel. I am having about 28,000 policemen (officers and men) in Lagos State and there is no other state you can compare with Lagos.

If you look at the policemen, for me to be able to control them, let alone talk of the 17 million people that are in Lagos State. It’s a very challenging task. It’s not the Lagos State that we used to know in the ‘70s. Look at the expansion of Lagos. Take for example, a drive just from old Maroko towards Epe. Left, right and center, you have hundreds of estates coming up from this axis. Some people, if you ask them about the location of Langbasa in Lagos State, they don’t know where Langbasa is. You come back to look at places like Igando. Igando used to be a very remote, bushy area that you find nobody but now it’s a city densely populated.

SQUIB: How do you cope? How does the command cope under you?
C.P: Well, that’s why I say it is very challenging. It is not an easy thing. We thank God for giving us the ability and capability to put up our best. But we leave the rest to the people to decide whether what we are doing is right. We are only doing everything humanly possible to do our best because when I took over the mantle of leadership of the Lagos State Police Command in June 2007, having known what the command is, and having spent many years of my career here, I know what Lagos is all about and the knitty-gritty of fighting crime and vis-a-vis the fighting tools we have. They are there but not adequate enough when and where you want them. Happily, we have seen a government that is responsible enough to respond to the yearnings of the people. Mr. President is doing wonderfully well. I can’t say otherwise.

SQUIB: What about the State Government?
C.P: The State government is doing very well also in terms of providing adequate equipment. You see, when you have individuals driven with passion for safety of lives and properties, then they are committed and that’s the only way you can describe the Governor of Lagos State.
And being a lawyer, he has no option than to do well. I think being a lawyer, there is no option than to do what he is doing. He is an individual beside being a lawyer who has love for his people otherwise he wouldn’t do what he is doing and I think there is no state in this country that has done what he has done so far.

SQUIB : How do you mean?
C.P: All along, he went to convince and got the support of corporate bodies and individuals to put up like 250 vehicles at a go, costing over several millions of naira. I don’t know of any state that has done this. I stand to be corrected, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola is doing great, perhaps others will follow in this direction. Police is an agency of the government. It is not a partner in that government. Whether it is a state or federal government, it is their responsibility to provide the tools for the police to use. That’s why you hear police are not being well paid, the police are not doing this or that.

The first important thing is what have they got to perform that function? For example, you can’t take a child to school without books, without writing materials and you expect him to write and you expect him to read without textbooks and also expect him to pass his/her exams. It is practically impossible. So, we are making do with what we have and this is the first time you can see they are responding to the situation of the people. More arms and ammunitions are being bought. If you look at the challenges, he (IGP) knows where the shoe pinches. The IGP knows where it pinches and he took up the challenges and we are quite happy with what is happening and he has taken the welfare of the Nigeria Police seriously.

SQUIB: Are you saying, the Police are now being well remunerated/better paid?
C.P: Security is very expensive these days. Nobody can quantify the level of security and ever pay you adequately for what you have done. I stand to be corrected. But you pay somebody a living wage, something that will make him cater for his family, pay school fees, take care of his children, feed his household and live comfortably. But if you want to quantify what he has done and you want to pay him, it is practically impossible. Mathematically, you can’t do that!

SQUIB: Can we say the Police are now having a living wage?
C.P: We are transcending to something close to that.
SQUIB: If I may ask you, sir, the average Nigerian sees the police as being not his friend, as somebody, to be feared. They see the police as a bully, somebody who should not be assisted because if you help the police, you are in trouble or could be in trouble.
C.P: I think it is not true and would be frank with you. One of the reasons for this perception is:
{a} Probably, you had an encounter with the wrong policeman.
{b} Nigerians are very gullible persons and like breaking the laws and want to go scot free. An example is driving against one way and a policeman stops you, then you say I am Mr. so and so. Then the policeman says you are going to the station. The policeman is strictly doing his job.
{c} Another typical example is that most Nigerians encourage policemen to do some of the bad things they practice. The government has the responsibility of building police stations and giving all the necessary equipment to the police to work. But this does not happen. Then therefore, say for an instance, there is a DPO and somebody from nowhere walks to a police station, introduces himself under the banner that he wants to assist the police asking why the police station is like this? Why are there not enough facilities and equipment? Then he dips his hands into his pocket and brings out two to three hundred thousand naira and gives the DPO. The DPO will be very happy or he gives the DPO the money to buy files for the police station. The DPO collects the money.

About three days later, the same person walks to the DPO. The DPO will even prostrate to the man to appreciate his kind gestures. The man then tables his problem before the DPO that he has a brother or somebody in the DPO’s custody and he tells the DPO that he knows his brother and that his brother can’t do such a thing as he was being accused of. Perhaps, his brother has committed robbery and the police do not have evidence to prove such a case. Based on his earlier humanitarian gesture, the DPO releases the criminal brother to continue robbing. The DPO has been lured to do what he did. If the government gives all that is required, you won’t have that happening.

An ideal police station should have 8 vehicles but a situation where there is only one vehicle to a police station and there happens to be 2 distress calls almost at the same time, which one should the police attend to? Whose fault? The same thing applies to a fire brigade fighter. There is a fire outbreak and when he gets there he opens the nozzle but there is no water. A distress call comes to a police station and the policemen say there is no vehicle, then the caller bangs the phone saying old story again. His expectation is that the police should be adequately equipped 24 hours to come to his aid. Nonetheless, the police is trying its best in the circumstances. I stand to be corrected, it is only the Nigerian Police that fights corruption in this country, the way corruption should be fought!

SQUIB: How?
CP: It is only the Nigerian Police that arrests its own personnel for wrongdoing. If he is arrested, he is detained. He is investigated, and if found guilty, is dismissed and prosecuted. Is there any other organisation like the Nigeria Police that fights corruption?
Sometimes in this country, people were being shot for carrying cocaine. Did they stop? They never stopped. People are being shot for armed robbery, it is still goes on. You and I know clearly, it is part and parcel of the society. Once society exists, crime must exist no matter how small it is. And we are not going to be tired; but I tell you that there has been serious reduction in forms of bribery and corruption in this command, and even with the coming of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), there has been serious reduction in crime and you can see the level of change in our policemen in terms of their behaviour and character while on the road. Because once they realize that the leadership does not tolerate it, they run away. It is a leadership problem. Once you have leaders who say; No, I don’t want this or that, you have to do what is right otherwise, you will be shown the way out. They will perform excellently well.

SQUIB: Can you tell us what the relationship between your command and the military is?
CP: Well, so far so good, we have an excellent relationship in this command with the military, we exchange ideas and relate very well. We interact very well. We go for meetings where we sit down together. We have never had any problems.

SQUIB: Have you heard if their personnel have ever beaten up your men?
CP: Since I came, I have not had that experience, not even once. We have had instances of the military handing over men involved in criminal activities over to me.
SQUIB: By themselves?
CP: Yes. So, that is to tell you the level of cooperation we have. It is excellent. For now, it is excellent. We have never had any cause to break that cordial relationship. I know the Brigade Commander, Gen. Maitama Yussuf, a very fine officer. The Airport Commander is excellent. Also, the Naval Commander. We have excellent officers’ relationship. Look at the issue of the merchant navy, we just took over the merchant navy and they handed over the case to us because they know their limitations. Cooperation we should have. And it goes well. And we have meetings we go to, sit down, exchange ideas, and do things together. That’s how it should be.

SQUIB: What about this problem of hospitals (doctors) getting clearance from the police before they can treat patients with gunshot wounds?
C.P: You mean you have to first and foremost get a clearance from the police before you can be treated? It has changed completely because we don’t have such problems now. Most of the time, people go to the hospitals before police stations. They are treated without the police even if the person is an armed robber. The first thing you can do is to treat him first because we don’t want him to die. We want him to sit down and give us information about who he had killed, where he killed and where the arms and ammunitions were. Things have changed. We don’t have problems with that at all.
SQUIB: Sir, Police and lawyers, it’s like a cat-dog relationship? What is the problem? Sometimes, policemen maybe hostile to them and your policemen see lawyers as being arrogant. Sometimes lawyers come to the police station to seek bail for their clients, but you hear policemen tell the clients, “instead of settling the case you have money to hire a lawyer, who told you to bring a lawyer and lots of things like that.” As an experienced police officer, how do you see these issues and what advice do you have for the lawyers?
C.P: I think it all depends on the level we relate. What matter is the understanding of ourselves knowing the role of the lawyer and what he is supposed to do. Some policemen don’t know. Some do and some are not worried at all. I have interacted with the NBA in Lagos State. Since I came to this state, we have exchanged ideas. For us to have proper co-ordination, I appointed a liaison officer so that he will be able to relate with Nigerians. I took it as a point of duty to lecture all my DPOs and Assistant Commissioners to ensure that what we do is right. Tell them what to do and how we expect them to behave at all times. Everyone has the right to come and see anybody that is detained at the police station, that’s the provision of the law. The investigating police officer (IPO) can be there. If it is within the police powers to grant bail at the police station and if it is a bail-able offence, it will be so granted provided it will not jeorpardise further investigation.

Lawyers are supposed to be working with the police and the judiciary. The police see to it that justice is done. Some lawyers understand. For instance, if somebody or a client comes to you (lawyers) to tell you a story of land matters, landlords and tenants issue, instead of you (lawyers) to take the case to court and charge him your professional fees and do what is right. You will rather want to use the police. This is unacceptable and we need to do more. We have responsibility to do more. If the lawyers and police work together, it is for the benefit of the citizens of the country.

One, you have left trivial and minor cases out of court. Two, you have left civil matters, all these civil cases (landlord and tenant) out of police stations. You have not paid the landlord your house rent as a tenant and you are rushing to the police for help. Or the landlord has locked your room because you are owing. These are cases that can be resolved ordinarily without going to court so that our courts can be left free to face serious cases. Lawyers are supposed to be crisis and conflict resolution managers just like the police. A lawyer can act as a policeman by his powers under the law, he can also make arrests just like any other person. By the wisdom God has given him as a professional, he should be able to sit down and advise his clients to follow the law and do the right thing. Some of these cases are very minor.

You see neighbours fighting over very trivial issues. You should separate them, because even if you go to court, and send the guilty person to jail, the person (offender) will still come back and live with the person who took the case to court, in the same house and probably go back to the same problem. Why don’t you make peace, because it doesn’t pay anybody to cause trouble. After paying the lawyer whatever he will charge, you are still going back to that same house.

SQUIB: If I may ask you, sir, MD Abubakar, why did you choose to be a policeman?
C.P: I think I have answered this question over and over again. I think I am destined to be a policeman by God. Do you believe in destiny? Yes, I do. Yes, I do because it is wherever you find yourself, you adapt. If I am not a policeman, I wonder where I would have found myself. That’s why I said I am destined to be a policeman. And I am proud of the Nigerian Police. Most people are criticising the police because they do not know the police. You and I know that several people don’t know what the police work is all about. What is the police salary? What and what it takes to be a policeman? How long it takes? What are the duties? What trouble does he go through?

There is need for you to appreciate a man’s job for you to be able to say whether he is doing the right thing or not. And for some people, the police is bad for the fact that the police do not allow themselves to be used by them. Tell me in this country, who doesn’t use the police either for good or bad?

SQUIB: Under your command, can the people use you?
C.P: Yes, legally, for good. Surely. But nobody can use me for evil. If you are doing what is wrong, you have to bear the consequences of your action. And there is a level you will be in the service, you just have to do what is right.
SQUIB: Are you saying if the Inspector General of Police (IGP) says you should do something that is wrong, you won’t do it?
C.P: My IGP will not tell me to do what is wrong. Sir Mike Okiro will not give me an instruction to do what is wrong.
SQUIB: He is a superior police officer, how can you tell your superior officer that you can’t carry out an order?
C.P: You can. Let me tell you, I have Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs).

SQUIB: Can they say No to you?
CP: Obviously, yes because I won’t give them bad instructions. They don’t work in my farm. The instructions I give will be legal instructions to do police duties. I will not tell them to release an armed robber without carrying out investigation. You can ask my DPOs whether I write such notes to them. If I write to any DPO, it is to say “Dear DPO, ensure justice is done.” I don’t give orders to do this or do that.
SQUIB: Sir, since the EFCC, am sorry to say, seem not to have a head for now, will you mind going their to head it?
CP: Don’t ask me about that. Well, I don’ want to go into that.
SQUIB: Nice to be with you sir.
CP: It is my pleasure. You are welcome.

Vol 8 No 14 21st January 2008 'RIBADU-hinmiism 2008'

SQUIB COVER STORY

“RIBADU-HINMIISM 2008”

Since 2005, it has become a sort of ritual for the NBA Ikeja branch a.k.a Tiger branch or simply Tigers to host the public to a festival of ideas on the platform of FAWEHINMIISM, an annual lecture/symposium in honour of Chief Abdul Ganiyu Fawehinmi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and arguably the most prominent human rights activists and social crusader in the last thirty years.

The lecture series started in the Adekunle Ojo chairmanship of the NBA Ikeja in 2005 ostensibly to honour the legendary Gani Fawehinmi, (renowned for his fearlessness, sacrificial patriotism, above all, untainted integrity) while still alive.

Since Gani as Chief Gani Fawehinmi is more popularly and simply known is not a quiet or silent achiever, but a colourful and rambunctious hero, it is natural that his celebration could never be done under the wraps.

Thus, from inception the FAWEHINMIISM Festival has always been an all comers event, with special efforts made to publicise the event, even before it took place and after it ended. To that end, advertisements in various media and forms of the events are done and journalists of all hues and colours cover the programme in their numbers.

A special tactic that guarantees attendance of many people at the festival is the announcement that the very first hundred guests to arrive would receive free, a number of Gani’s publications (law reports and books). This year, the number of beneficiaries of Gani’s benevolence was increased to 200, with each to receive 9 books costing no less than N15, 000.00.

Little wonder then that guests for the Fawehinmiism 2008 festival billed to start by 10.00 a.m. started arriving as early as 5.00 a.m. according to some reports. And by 7.30 a.m., three hundred and ten people were already on the queue to put down their names as participants.

Ironically, for an event organised and advertised as a lecture on ANTI-CORRUPTION, dishonesty manifested early as some people, lawyers inclusive were spotted shunting on the queue to ensure that they also had shares of the Gani freebies.

Fawehinmiism 2008 was different in one important aspect from the earlier festivals - the celebrant was absent.
In the 2005, 2006, 2007 editions, the presence of the lion himself, Gani, at the festival was a delight to so many. His style was to come to the venue quietly and invariably punctually. Then, he would go round humbly greeting and saluting distinguished members of the audience and very warmly too. Invariably, Gani was always the last speaker to address the crowd.

This aspect was what most people in the audience had come for - to hear the legend in that his unique and fascinating forceful manner, where he reels facts and figures so easily to back his contentions. Gani’s shortest speech at Fawehinmiism festivals lasted no less than two hours, and so passionately and emotionally delivered that even a corpse present could have woken up. Gani’s speeches at Fawehinmiism were not a matter of just of “sound and fury” but full of substance and penetrating insights into the problems of the Nigerian polity.

But at this year’s festival, the colossus was missing. The crowd (about one thousand, two hundred strong) was sorely disappointed to hear from Niyi Adewunmi Esq. the master of ceremony, who is also the chairman of the Organising Committee of the festival that due to ill-health, Gani had to be flown post-haste to the United Kingdom for adequate medical attention, just three days before the festival. It will be recalled that for several months earlier Gani, who will turn 70 in April had been battling ill-health in a London Hospital where he had gone for treatment. In fact he only came back home in Nigeria, to be around for FAWEHINMIISM 2008, but as the saying goes - “Man proposes, but God disposes.”

In the absence of Gani, his place was taken by another. That other person was not Gani’s charming and affable representative - Basirat Biobaku his daughter. Rather, it was his self-described protégé Nuhu Ribadu, Assistant Inspector General of Police, and until very recently, boss of the famous or is it notorious Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC.

When the programme kicked off, the master of ceremony invited to the high table, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi the chairman of the occasion, Honourable Justice Olubunmi Oyewole {Special Guest of Honour}, Professor Akin Ibidapo-Obe, Mrs. Basirat Biobaku, Mr. Justice Morenike Onalaja, Professor Yemi Osinbajo S.A.N, Mr. Dele Adesina S.A.N, Mr. Segun Sango Aderemi S.A.N, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, Adekunle Ojo, Barrister Adeleke, a law lecturer with the Lagos State University and the representative of the Dean, LASU Faculty of Law.

It would appear that there was an unconscious conspiracy among the dignitaries on the high table to make Fawehinmi 2008 more of a celebration of the controversial and publicity hungry Nuhu Ribadu, the immediate past chairman of the equally controversial - Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Going by the theme of this year’s festival – “CHALLENGES OF LEGITIMACY IN GOVERNANCE AND THE WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION” a reasonable expectation was that lecturers and discussants would make their intellectual forays in the direction of discussing how corrupt acquisition of political power and authority would enfeeble any government crusade against economic and financial corruption in the polity.

Only a few of the speakers and discussants shared this perspective. Some delved more into the socio-political causes and consequences of corruption and gave advice on how the menace of corruption could be tackled while others took the lecture as an opportunity to revisit the already dead and buried controversy whether or not government did right in sending Nuhu Ribadu away from the EFCC as chairman to become an adult student at the School of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near Jos.

The chairman of the occasion was the first to go down the Ribadu lane. The Professor and former minister of external affairs, argued that since it is special individuals who build nations and who are remembered in history then, such special individuals are actually indispensable in the affairs of their nations, concluding that government was wrong in taking Ribadu away from the EFCC, an organ he had nurtured so well. As far as Professor Akinyemi was concerned, Ribadu was indispensable to the continuous growth and effectiveness of the EFCC.

The next speaker, Honourable Justice Oyewole steered a rather neutral course as he made his speech, an exhortation to the Nigerian masses to see the crusade against corruption as war to be fought by all.

After the Honourable Judge came Professor Yemi Osinbajo S.A.N. The revered lecturer dedicated his lecture to Nuhu Ribadu and that alone spoke volumes. Osinbajo pointed out that corruption is not only thick in the public sector of the economy but also in the private sector. Osinbajo, famed for his intellectual endowment contended that poverty and impecuniosity are the main causes of the social vices of bribery and corruption. According to the learned silk, under him as the Attorney-General of Lagos State, government made considered improvement on the welfare package or conditions of judges and magistrates to reduce their susceptibility to corruption.

Professor Akin Ibidapo Obe who spoke next traced the pervasive presence of corruption in the society to the abandonment of core cultural values and traditional, moral ethics of Africans. According to Ibidapo-Obe, Africans are not conginentally prone to corruption as some theorists contend, even though in modern times corruption is like a second skin to many Africans.
Just when Dr. Joe Okei Odumakin was about to address the audience, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu quietly walked in. The time was about 1.30 p.m. and the audience was immediately seized with a sudden fever of excitement as roars of applause greeted the entrance of the former EFCC boss.

Many in the audience, especially the law students and young lawyers became agitated. To them the presence of Ribadu was not only sensational but even magical. Even though the man wanted to stay quietly in the crowd, he was forced, so to say to the high table, and equally forced or held to ransom to address the audience.

Of course, Ribadu loved fewer things than addressing appreciative audience. Only last year at the Fawehinmiism 2007 where he participated as the Guest Lecturer, he had used the opportunity to display his ability as a grand-stander. The times have however changed. The political dynamics that governed his elevation to the EFCC top job had altered and he had been, as it were shoved “upstairs” and (at least for now), had become an ex-this as far as the EFCC is concerned. Thus, Ribadu embraced a new found taciturnity, although even then from the few words he spoke at the occasion to wit:

“When I entered into this gathering
I was impressed by the ovation given to me. That to me is a conclusion in itself, so to say. Anything now will be an anti-climax. Let us pray for this country.
I don’t want to talk in view of the prevailing circumstances. My silence itself speaks volume for what is going on in this country. Something is happening to our country.
I want you all to join hands to pray for this country. I leave everything in the hands of God” clearly indicated his bitterness and angst at his removal from the EFCC.

Of course Ribadu did not fail to express intense admiration, even adoration of his self-adopted mentor - Chief Fawehinmi SAN whose good health he prayed for.

Fawehinmiism 2008 was a natural and comfortable haven for A.I.G Nuhu Ribadu to express his views about Gani and in turn get applauded and lauded as a honest government official and anti-corruption fighter. This because, with the possible exception of speakers like Dele Adesina S.A.N and Profesor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, all the other contributors are ardent admirers and followers of the socio-political school of thought that Gani represented.

Speakers such as Dr. Okei- Odumakin, Segun Sango Aderemi, Olasupo Ojo etc. are Gani’s ideological tribesmen and so could not and did not provide any intellectual counter-foil to the credentials of a manipulating and ‘manipulable’ crime fighter like Nuhu Rabadu, who is seen by Gani and his ilks as faultless.

In all, at the end of day the event appeared to be more of a celebration of Nuhu Ribadu, certainly no apostle of strict compliance with legality and due process, than the absent Gani Fawehinmi SAN, who in his numerous battles with forces of political oppression had used and relied on the law and the courts of law as his main weapons. Certainly, Ribadu was the star of the event.

As the programme came to an end at about 3.30 p.m., Mrs. Basirat Biobaku, Gani’s daughter and representative thanked the audience for turning up to honour and celebrate her illustrious father.

Before the curtains finally drew on the programme, the organisers distributed books and law reports as promised to the “first” two hundred participants.

The SQUIB prays that Chief Fawehinmi S.A.N will be hale and hearty for many years to come. Fawehinmiism 2009, here we come!

Vol 8 No 13 14th January 2008 'From Grass to SAN'

FROM GRASS TO SAN

On Sunday the 6th of January 2008, the Golden Gate restaurant played host to about a hundred and twenty people at a luncheon organised in honour of Mr. Julius Oladele Adesina, a Deacon of the Living Faith Ministry a.k.a. Winners Chapel. On the 12th of December, 2007, Mr. J.O. Adesina better known as Dele Adesina along with 16 other legal practitioners was formally conferred with the prestigious award of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria in Abuja. This achievement makes the new silk one of the very few senior advocates to hail from Ekiti and his very home town - Ilawe, Ekiti.

Billed to start at 2.30p.m., the programme kicked off some fifty minutes later. In attendance were about nine judges from the Lagos State High Court: Justices Coker, Oyewole, Oyefeso, Okunnu, Ishola, Oluwayemi, Obadina, a former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Samuel Olatunde Ilori, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Akin Oguntade JSC.

In attendance were also the leadership of the three branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Lagos State to wit: Mr. Erastus Bola Baderinwa (Lagos Branch), Mr. Niyi Idowu (Ikeja Branch) and Mr, Nurudeen Ogbara (Ikorodu Branch).

Present also was the leader of the Living Faith Ministry - Bishop David Oyedepo who is also the Chancellor of the Covenant University. The Bishop’s wife - Faith was also present. Many indigenes of Ekiti State and Ilawe town were also present.

The Chairman of the occasion was Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi, pharmacist, lawyer and polygot while the Master of Ceremony was Barrister Adesupo Ojo - the Chairman of the Campaign for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR).

The Chairman of the occasion gave a stirring address which was full of commendation for the celebrant of the day but he was surpassed by Bishop David Oyedepo who exhorted the new silk to manifest the greatness of his elevation in making himself more relevant to the progress of the society; even globally rather than seeking his own private enlargement and enjoyment.

The celebrant himself gave what was perhaps the most touching of all the speeches as he narrated the ups ands downs of his life, giving cogent examples of how people who could be described as strangers to him in the past, helped him up from a nobody to somebody.

His speech herein reproduced should serve as an excellent tonic to younger lawyers who are still struggling to make it in the legal profession not to lose hope and it can also serve as an encouragement for those who are already on the rise not to relent in their efforts. The SQUIB wishes Dele Adesina SAN, elbow grease!

SPEECH DELIVERED BY DEACON DELE ADESINA SAN ON THE OCCASION OF A LUNCHEON HELD AT THE GOLDEN GATE RESTAURANT ON THE 6TH OF JANUARY 2008 ON HIS CONFERMENT WITH THE RANK OF SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA (SAN).

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a very great honour that you all both individually and collectively have done to me; my family and my Chambers by your honoured presence here this great afternoon, at this reception in my honour for my conferment with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Let me admit straightaway that words are inadequate to express my happiness for this great honour. It is my prayer that my God will honour you all.

Let me assure you that, I am very conscious of the enormous responsibility that this recognition has imposed not only on me but also on all the 17 of us that were conferred with this great honour on the 30th day of October, 2007 by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) of our great and beloved Profession. This responsibility includes but not limited to an automatic assumption of leadership in the Profession. Leadership to show good example. Leadership in the defence and protection of the independence and integrity of the Judiciary. Leadership in the promotion of the welfare of both the Lawyers particularly the junior members and the Judges, knowing fully well that the greatness of any journey is a function of the quality of responsibility that a man engages, because responsibility they say is the price of greatness.

This enormous responsibility is of course in addition to our conventional role as Lawyers in a democratic society such as ours. It is to be recalled that the role of the lawyer in any democratic society is to consistently defend the truth and justice- It is to be a determined fighter for freedom.
It was Thomas Erskine who said that "it is the role of an advocate to break the rod of oppression and to ensure that the ordinary citizen is properly protected from power, its excesses, its misuse and its abuse". This is a role that is both professional and generational.

The world is looking for somebody who will do something not somebody who will explain why he did not do anything. I do not intend to fail the genuine expectations imposed on me by this elevation. As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, I shall pursue justice, knowing fully well that justice does not flow from any system but from the individual.

According to all classical definitions, Justice should dwell in the hearts of men. Drawing grace therefore from those ahead of me, I shall not disappoint the purpose for my cherished elevation as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
In the book 'Purpose Driven Life", Rick Warren the Author, talking about sharing your life message had this to say "Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from our hearts to others. Personal stories are easier to relate to principles as well as they are easier to remember for long". Peter the Apostle also said that "We are chosen by God to do His work and speak out for Him, to tell others of the night and day difference He made for us". In relating briefly how I got to this level, let me say that God is more than what people say. God is more than what people think and certainly God is much more than what people know of Him.

I was called to the Bar in July 1982. As a new wig, I was bubbling with life, full of high expectations, dreaming great dreams. After my NYSC, in an attempt to avoid roaming about in the wilderness of unemployment, having found nobody to link me up with a reputable Chambers for my pupilage in Lagos, despite my burning desire to work in Lagos, I joined the Ministry of Justice in Ondo State as a State Counsel in July 1983. Just a month after, precisely on the 16th of August 1983, there was a massive political violence that ravaged Akure the State Capital and some other major towns in the then Ondo State, following the gubernatorial elections of that month.

A friend of mine late Mr. Anthony Ayeni Akiika with whom I was squatting unknown to me was a strong supporter of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN)/ the party in whose favour the election acquired during my NYSC were burnt by the rioters, leaving me only to save my wig and gown and the clothes I had on me. The permission by the rioters for me to save my wig and gown was almost considered to have been abused by me when I pleaded with them to save my friend's properties. A plea they rejected without any consideration. This event was to have a lasting impression on me and there and then I decided I was going to leave Ondo state back to Lagos.

In January 1984, I took up employment with Hogg Robinson Nigeria as a Claims Officer. This prompted me to enrol for a professional examination in insurance on completion of which I was to acquire the Association of Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) Certificate- By the end of 1985, even though I had passed 6 papers out of 9 to qualify, I no longer had satisfaction with my job. I had also began to lack total fulfilment. I began to think of going to where I thought I belong (private practice). Without having any particular law firm in mind, I resigned my appointment.
Even as far back as that time, I was conscious of the fact that my potential was limitless and cannot be measured by the opinions of others. I knew that I possess the ability to achieve, to develop, to accomplish, to produce, to create and perform anything my mind may conceive or imagine.

Scripturally, there is always a Jonathan and a Judas Iscariot to everyone. But I have been specially favoured by God Almighty. To every Judas Iscariot on my path. God has raised multiple Jonathans for me. So, God used one Dr. Ayo Olaiya, the Managing Director of Bellix International Nigeria Ltd and Mr Johnson Akinneye, the General Manager of my Company to introduce me to Late Chief Doja Adewopo of Doja Adewopo & Co, with whom I served pupilage for 6years, until 1992, when I founded Dele Adesina & Co. These were my 1st set of Jonathans. By the way, Chief Doja Adewopo was the personal Lawyer to Mr. Johnson Akinneye the Company's General Manager. I had such a wonderfully robust relationship with my principal to the extent that when he was on a terminal sick bed, about the year 2001, he actually handed his family over to me and I became, as it were, a father to the family.

Unlike some of us at the time, I served 6 years with my principal, partly because of lack of resources due to poverty, and partly for lack of confidence to stand alone-1 was neither confident enough to think that I might succeed nor secured enough to bear the sense of failure if I did not succeed in the course of my work.

Meanwhile, on the 31st of December, 1989, I joined the Living Faith Church then at Raji Oba, lyana Ipaja, Lagos State. In 1992, I was handling the case of ZANEN VESTORP VS. NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NTDA) & 6 Ors at the High Court of Lagos State when God raised yet another Jonathan to attest to my competence. After a rigorous day in court one day, a gentleman by name Captain Adekunle Harrison Kuti, the Plaintiffs Managing Director, who was visibly impressed by my courtroom performance, asked me why I was not running my own chambers and I told him I had no money. He said "I can invest in you” and that led to the birth of Dele Adesina & Co at No.55 Allen Avenue Ikeja, Lagos in July 1992. Again God had raised another Jonathan.

The investment of Captain Kuti of 1992 confirmed the truism in the
statement of Nelson Mandela in his autobiography 'Long Walk To freedom' that "there is little favourable to be said about poverty, but it was an incubator of true friendship. Many people will appear to befriend you when you are wealthy, but precious few will do the same when you are poor. If wealth is a magnet, poverty is a kind of repellant". Captain Kuti, you are a true friend. And so, the glory and favour of God continued to find expression in my life at every stage and at every turn.

In 1993, I was handling the case of OLADIPO VS. ALHAJA MORIAMO, a land matter. It was a case that I likened to a fight between an Ant and an Elephant. The Plaintiff, Mr Oladipo, Lawyer and a retired Police Officer being the Elephant and Alhaja Moriamo, the Defendant and my Client, a poor single woman being the Ant. In the course of the proceedings, my Client's house was mysteriously set ablaze. I threw the totality of my person, and passion without any reservation into the prosecution of the lady's case. The arson became the tonic I needed for renewed passion and dedication to the case. One day after a hearing, one of the witnesses called on behalf of me defence, was so impressed and he said so. Perhaps, knowing that my Client had no money to pay and yet surprised with the degree of passion and commitment with which I fought the case, without any request or prompting, from me, the witness said “what can I do for you this young man?" ............ I shall give you a parcel of land" which he did. I later completed the construction of a beautiful edifice on that land in 1998.

My Lords, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, from that time on, I literally became unstoppable in my steady rise to the pinnacle of Glory that we are here celebrating today. In terms of participation in the affairs of the Nigerian Bar Association, I have had the Grace and the privilege of serving in various capacities including but not limited to the office of Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch and the Secretary General of the Association at the National level- I have also had the privilege of serving in various capacities of responsibility in my local Church Living Faith Church, Faith Tabernacle also known as Winners Chapel Ota, Ogun State. It is the worth of a person that marks the quality delivery of his mission.

I believe I have a mission in this profession. Ability to lead is not innate, it is acquired and nurtured. Having regard to the quality of men and women who have ignited me spiritually and professionally and from whom I have drawn grace, I prayerfully believe that the vision I talked about shall continue to find expression particularly in our beloved and noble profession and also in the Nation in general.

Talking about Leadership in a paper entitled "Maintaining Christian Identity (integrity) in Secular Leadership delivered by me at a special Leadership Seminar organised by Harvest Feeds Ministry International on the 7th of April, 2007, I said “The world is looking for a new generation of leaders who will be driven by the superior motive to put public interest above self interest in other to render a selfless service to humanity. A superior motive of honour and integrity.

A new generation of leaders who will accept responsibility to rescue our Nation from being a failed state and a failed people. A new generation of leaders that will through their selfless sacrifice institutionalise dedication, commitment, accountability and transparency, not only in public life but also and more particularly in their private lives. A new generation of leaders that will be big enough to admit their mistake, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.

A new generation of leaders who will not only go beyond being a people pleaser to being a God pleaser, but who will also know that the need for God's affirmation supercedes the need for the peoples affirmation of their conduct and actions. A new generation of leaders who will know that leadership is not about wielding authority but about service to humanity and empowering the people".

Drawing inspiration from the Church, there was a time the phrase "As poor as a church rat' represented the identity and the description of the Church. I am sure that this was one of the things that led to the total lack of excellence, quality and breakthrough in the Church. Later there came the emergence of the Faith Church pioneered by the Smith Wigginsworths, Kenneth Haggins, Billy Grahams, Benson Idahosas, Enoch Adeboyes and David Oyedepos of this World. The emergence came with a fresh wind of awesome responsibilities, instilling a sense of destiny and purpose in the hearts of these pioneers.

It became imperative for this new generation of Christians to see the inner strength and the potential lying deep within them and with a renewed commitment with the Creator Jesus Christ, prepared themselves for the refinement of skills for the sole purpose of changing the face of Christianity. This visionary generation of leaders accepted responsibility to change the face of Christianity for which we all are now proud beneficiaries.

Every great institution is the lengthen shadow of a single man. His character determines the character of his organisation. Every organisation reflects its leader. There would have been no compassionate organisation called the Salvation Army if not for William Booth. There would have been no Methodist awakening, if not for John Wesley. It is my solemn pledge that in collaboration with other Leaders in the Inner Bar, together, we shall change the face of Legal Practice in Nigeria. In all of these I know and God knows too that oppositions are real but I also know that to overcome is much more real.

CONCLUSION
To the great and highly valued Clients of Dele Adesina & Co. both present and absent here this afternoon, past, present and even the future, this gathering is dedicated to you. Your support, your patronage and your believe in our divine ability/ professional capability and intellectual capacity to find solutions to your problems and answers to your questions have led us to this glorious accomplishment. We can only reciprocate by renewing our determination and commitment to the mission statement of our Law firm which is "to harness our potentials, to promote justice and the rule of law through a demonstrated degree of professionalism and integrity while protecting your rights". This mission shall be driven by passion, run with dedication and propelled by sacrifice under the Grace of God.

I thank you all for listening.

DELE ADESINA, SAN
Dele Adesina & Co.