It is an honour and a great privilege to stand before you today. This is not just a meeting; it is a passage, a moment of reflection before an historic transformation of our Forum. We are here to review our past, present and future trajectory as a Forum of Professionals dedicated to the promotion of the rule of law, observance of ethical standards, growth and the advancement of the collective interests of lawyers in the Arewa region. In so doing, we remain resolved to collaborate with the NBA and other entities whose objectives coincide with those of our Forum. With your sincere suggestions and tapping from your fountain of wisdom and experience, it is hoped that we shall democratically ensure a transition to a new leadership soonest that will give life and wings to the noble vision that birthed the ALF.
So, if you will indulge me, I want to speak about the three phases of our journey: The Forging of the Vision, The Foundation of the Mandate, and The Commissioning of the Service.
A. The Forging of the Vision:
The Arewa Lawyers Forum is not a recent invention; it is the culmination of decades of shared aspirations. It began in Maiduguri, with friends and associates of northern extraction, united by a singular desire: to resuscitate and reinvigorate the interest and participation of our members in the affairs of the Legal Profession at all levels in our nation and beyond. However, long before that time, other elders of Arewa had embraced the idea of such an association but were waiting for the number of lawyers of Arewa extraction to increase. Thus, our journey to this point has been a marathon run in the dark, guided only by the light of our shared principles.
I recall the pivotal moment in 2017 in Kaduna, when we were appointed as a Caretaker Committee led by Mr. Elisha Kura, SAN following the foundational work previously undertaken by several others. Sadly, we lost our leader, late Elisha Kura, SAN whose wise counsel, vast knowledge, very gentle and clear focus we continue to miss. As the most senior in the team and with the support of other members of our Committee, I took on the mantle of ensuring this vision did not falter.
The path to this moment has been built on three silent, non-negotiable principles:
- The Foundation of Integrity: We resolved that to be taken seriously, our work had to be built on an unshakeable legal structure.
- The Crucible of Commitment: We navigated the administrative hurdles, the long processes, and the commitment of resources required to translate an idea into a legal entity.
- The Mandate of Unity: To liaise with all individuals, groups and associations to work for the maximization and advancement of the collective interest of the Forum in a transparent manner.
B. The Foundation of the Mandate: The Weight of the Trust
And then, the day came. On June 19th, 2020, the Arewa Lawyers Forum was officially registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), bearing the registration number CAC/IT/NO.147278.
This registration forms the building blocks, making sure our story has an authoritative backing and weight. A promise was birthed on the shoulders of all the leaders, some present and some in the hereafter.
It is the weight of History and Trust. Our Forum is validated and guided by a Board of Trustees comprising legal titans who have excelled over the past few decades: Fatima Kwaku, MFR; Muhammad Audie Bandado; Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN; and the late Naser Abdu Dangiri, SAN, FCIArb. But more than these respected names, we also have the late Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, SAN, J.B.Daudu, SAN, His Excellency M.A. Abubakar, SAN, A.B.Mahmoud, SAN, Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, Hassan M. Liman, SAN, Garba S. Pwul,SAN, Markus Y. Saleh, SAN and late Alhaji Aliyu Umar, SAN.
We must, again, pause here. As we mourn the passing of some of our respected trustees and late Chairman, Elisha Kura, SAN as well as several others whose commitment and excellence in guiding us remain woven into the fabric of this Forum, please let us all rise for a minute of silence in their honour.
Gentlemen, we have collectively laid the foundation, each one with unique role. Now, we must erect the pillars.
C. The Commissioning of Service: The Road After the Registration
Today, we must note that our Constitution provides for a Governing Body with the following officers: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer, Welfare Officer and Legal Adviser/Officer.
Thus, we need to have these officers soonest. We also need to fill the five vacancies in the Board of Trustees.
The Mandate of Collective Dignity
The core objective of the Arewa Lawyers Forum is to reinvigorate the engagement and professional development of its members by creating a unified platform for partnership that actively works towards the advancement of the collective interest of the Forum. This is achieved through strategic liaison and cooperation with various legal and related bodies both within and outside the old Northern Region, with a primary focus on upholding the highest ideals, ethics, and the Constitution of the NBA in Northern Nigerian branches, while simultaneously fostering a spirit of understanding and tolerance between the Bar, the Bench and all stakeholders in the administration of justice.
Note this, please: the assumption of any leadership position in ALF is a key to a higher responsibility. It necessitates two critical actions:
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Professional Discipline and Financial Obligation:
To realise the goals of this Forum and truly be a platform for development, we must transition to having card-holding members with a defined financial obligation. The collective dignity of the Forum depends on a shared commitment to its financial viability. We must be intolerant of ethical breaches and must hold ourselves to the highest standards, remembering that our collective reputation is diminished when we fail to manage our affairs with transparency and accountability.
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Mentorship and Reform:
We must be the ones to create a mentorship platform, reforms and partnership to assist in the development of the Legal Profession at all levels. We must use our collective voices, not for internal gossips, but for advocacy—to help steer the Forum and the Nigerian Legal Community towards a brighter future.
Conclusion: A New Generation of Guardians
Today, I urge you to guide us all until we choose the new Guardians of the ALF. Remember also that the law is a human enterprise, shaped by the values and choices of the people who work within it. Choose leaders who will embody honesty, humility and honour.
I have every confidence that the outcome of this meeting will secure a future for the Arewa Lawyers Forum that is worthy of the vision of its founders and the legacy of its great Trustees. Finally, as the sun rises tomorrow, we shall be celebrating with our new learned silks. Congratulations to them all from the ALF!!!
May God bless the ALF, the Nigerian Legal Profession and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you.
Mohammed Monguno, Esq.
CTC Chairman,
Arewa Lawyers Forum.
