On the 5th of May 2011,the Nigerian Bar Association,Lagos branch under the leadership of Chijioke Okoli honoured six members of the branch who have distinguished themselves.The members were Dame Priscilla Kuye,Senator Onyeabor Obi,Chief B.O. Benson,Mr Tunji Gomez,Mrs Boma Ozobia and Alh M.U Ibrahim aka “Jam Jam”.
For that wonderful occasion, the founder of Courtroom mail, Anthony Atata had the task of writing and presenting the citation of M.U Ibrahim.
As the news of his passing filtered into the air this morning, courtroom mail publishes that citation as written and presented by Anthony Atata
I am pleased to have undertaken the task to write and present the citation of one of the Senior Lawyers I hold in high regards.
Musa Usman Ibrahim was born on the 29th day of July 1953 in Jos, Plateau State.
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He attended Nigerian Army Primary School Jos, 1959 – 1965 where he obtained his first school leaving certificate. He proceeded to Government College Keffi and obtained his West Africa School Certificate (WASC) in 1972 having started off there in 1968.
M.U. Ibrahim leadership qualities from childhood are properly documented starting from when he was a form monitor from FORM 1 – 5 between1968 – 1972.
SECRETARY SCHOOL DEBATING SOCIETY 1971
VICE PRESIDENT SCHOOL DEBATING SOCIETY 1972
SECRETARY WORLD AFFAIR SOCIETY 1971 – 1972
Co ROOM PREFECT 1971.
It might interest you to know that MU Ibrahim is an ardent sport man. In 1972 he was the House Hockey Captain and in the same 1972 he was the House vice Athletics Captain.
- Ibrahim turned out to be a Lawyer so it will neither come as a surprise nor be in itself a surprising thing if at this point you discover that he became the Monitor of his College reading room monitor which was a prestigious position at that time in Government College Keffi.
In the same 1972 he was the President North Central Student Association and a member Dramatic Society. Frankly up till now I still see those traits of drama in him.
Between 1973 – 1977 MU. Ibrahim was at Ahmadu Bello University where he was Member School of Basic Studies Committee, Chairman School of Basic Studies Committee, Member Student Parliament and Secretary General of Student Union, Vice President Law Society and Member University Consultative Committee all between 1973 – 1977.
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After his call to bar in 1978, he immediately began his service to both the public and the bar. In the same 1978, he proceeded to Anambra State to serve his country under the NYSC Scheme. In Anambra, he was posted to Ministry of Justice and later became the Head of the Legal Aid Office. This was in 1978 in the Ministry of Justice. Fourteen years later great news will be heard about M.U Ibrahim in the Ministry of Justice but this time not in Anambra but in Katsina State.
After his NYSC, he rose to the position of a Senior State Counsel at the Ministry of Justice in Kaduna where he was in charge of assizes and appeals. It is important I bring to your notice that MU. Ibrahim was the 1st Officer to be so designated in the Ministry. As part of his duties in the Ministry of Justice he represented the Solicitor General on the board of Katsina Oil Mill and Kaduna State distribution agency.
He also served as Assistant Counsel to the Kaduna State Distribution Agency Commission of Inquiry Chaired by Justice I.A. Salami.
From 1980 – 1986, MU. Ibrahim represented the Solicitor General on the state tender board, served as Chairman Rent Tribunal, served as Company Secretary/Legal Adviser Nigerian National Shipping Line Limited.
He also served as Chairman Local Government Election Tribunal Daura, Katsina.
At last 14 years later, after his call to bar he became the Attorney General Katsina State.
The records of his service to the bar are remarkable, He was a member of the Lagos Branch Executive between 1987 – 1991 under the Chairmanship of Chief Olaogun and Late Mabo Esq. He has been a member of the National Executive Committee of the NBA since 1987. He also served as a member of the Editorial Board, Law and Practice Journal of the NBA and in 1991, he was a member of the Conference Planning Committee of the African Bar Association. In the same 1991, he served as a member of the Committee on remuneration of Lawyers. From 1992 – 2002 he was a member of Council of Legal Education. On the 29th of November 2010, he became a Life member of the Body of Benchers after being a member for a long time. Since 1978, he has attended the NBA Annual Conference Twenty Eight (28) times and insha Allah, he will be in Port Harcourt this year.
Anthony Atata-May 5th 2011
