Stories by Steve Aya
Ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, a host of Senior Advocates of Nigeria and prominent Nigerians from all walks of life celebrated Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN at a Public Lecture held at the Body of Benchers Building in Abuja. Renowned Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of The Cable, Mr Simon Kolawole, delivered the lecture titled: “Prioritising Ethical Conducts and Anti-Corruption Measures in Governance in Nigeria”.
In his tribute to Chief Kanu Agabi SAN, Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomonlo, SAN stated: “ I am delighted at the opportunity to write this tribute in honour of Godwin Kanu Agabi, CON, SAN, FNIALS.
“I concede that it is not an easy task writing a tribute about the Honouree, a two- time Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The most significant aspect of this tribute, is the fact that Kanu is being celebrated while still alive. He read the opinions of his colleagues and friends, a rare opportunity many eminent men of means do not have.
“My first encounter with Kanu was sometime between 2000/ 2001, when the legal juggernauts in Nigeria were debating whether the National Assembly had the power to legislate on corruption and abuse of office as an Act of National Assembly, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission Act, particularly when it was not an item under the Executive Legislative List. The constitutionality debates were held in various fora, and in a group in which Kanu was a contributor, I was also invited to give an opinion.
“Kanu, in his usual joking manner, asked us to address the intent of Sections 4 and 15 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with the words “for the peace, order and good government of the Federation”, because these words provided the solution. His interpretation of the Constitution was so deep on the matter, and it was adopted by the Supreme Court in its judgement in the Case No. SC 200/2001, Attorney-General of Ondo State v Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation & 35 Ors., delivered on 17th June, 2002.
“He is one man who believes in critical analysis of the law’s purpose, and in the need for Counsel to be professional and to observe the highest ethical standards. He is always humorous, and ensures that the Bar and Bench work together to advance justice. He does not believe any case is hopeless, and that the person assumed to be the guilty party must be crushed. Every Defendant, he says, deserves the mercy of God.
“Kanu is always ready to sacrifice his comfort and resources for anyone, irrespective of the cost. He remains, to my knowledge, the only legal practitioner who provides free accommodation for Lawyers in Abuja, and his legendary charitable acts are noteworthy.
“I have had the privilege of reading the tributes by Kanu’s friends and colleagues, but none of them has found any guile in him. They all unanimously agree that Kanu Agabi is one man who daily feeds the poor; he does not envy, parade himself, or become puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek his own, is not easily provoked, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, and is acknowledged nationally as a man of peace. He fears God, and it shows.”