President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Jigawa State, as the new Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The president appointed Aliyu alongside Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu, who will serve as the Secretary for the commission pending senate approval, according to a statement from the Presidency on Tuesday.
Facts about Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu
An indigene of Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Dr Aliyu obtained his LL.B degree from Bayero University Kano in 2003. Since his admission to the Nigerian Bar in 2004, Dr Aliyu has been engaged in active legal practice save for time taken out to pursue his postgraduate education. He obtained an LL.M Degree in Islamic Law in 2011 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He further obtained a PhD degree in 2019 at the School of Law Universiti Utara Malaysia in Constitutional Law specializing in Appointment and Discipline of Judicial Officers in Nigeria.
He was recently shortlisted for the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Dr Aliyu’s years of practice as an advocate began in the prestigious law offices of AKI P.A. and Company in Gombe State to A.A. Umar & Co. in Kano, the well-known law firm founded by late Aliyu Umar SAN; a former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Kano State between 2003 – 2011 and also a former Director Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice Kano State. Dr Aliyu has a passion for academics. He has over ten publications in peer-reviewed journals and had attended conferences within Nigeria and Malaysia.
Dr Aliyu is a visionary who desires change and development of the legal profession as such has been an active member of the Nigerian Bar Association and Nigeria Association of Law Teachers. He served the NBA Kano Branch in various capacities. He is a former Vice-Chairman of the NBA, Kano Branch in 2016 – 2017, Chairman Human Rights Committee of the NBA Kano Branch, 2016 – 2017, Secretary of the Continuing Legal Education Committee in 2014 – 2016 and member of the Anti-Corruption Committee, of the branch in 2012 – 2014.
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As a visionary, Dr Aliyu is a strong advocate for a united and effective Bar. A reformer that is facilitating the Jigawa State Ministry of Justice and Justice sector as a whole improve the ways they are working through an overhaul of the system and introduction of new and modern processes including Information Technology tools for effective and efficient service delivery.
Dr Aliyu has made outstanding contributions to the development of Nigerian law, jurisprudence and advocacy through the handling of many cases from inferior courts to Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Though a lawyer and academic, Dr Aliyu is also is a philanthropist. His rare passion for human development, in general, is matchless and exemplary through his numerous services to the community, pro bono cases, street lawyering and legal clinical services.
Controversies
In 2021, Musa Adamu Aliyu was accused of professional misconduct and abuse of office by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Jigawa State branch
According to Sahara Reporter, an online news platform, NBA accused Aliyu of misusing his office to settle personal vendettas against lawyers within the Jigawa State Ministry of Justice.
He was accused of interfering with the Jigawa State NBA election. Also according to the NBA, on September 23, 2020, he caused a query to be issued by the Ministry of Justice to Nuhu S. Tafida, Esq. for allegedly disregarding the directives of the Attorney General to desist from events relating to the NBA.
Similar queries were reportedly issued by the same ministry against Adamu Mukhtar Esq., who was the elected Vice Chairman of the Nuhu Tafida Esq. group and Suleiman Muhammed Musa Esq., who was the Chairman of the election committee that elected Tafida.
The NBA fact-finding committee in its report resolved as follows: “That Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, Esq. the Honourable Attorney General of Jigawa State should be strongly advised to take immediate steps to reinstate Nuhu Suleiman Tafida, Esq. and the other staff of the Jigawa State Ministry of Justice whom he caused to be suspended to their various offices and positions within 2 weeks.
“The Honourable Attorney General should further be warned in writing to desist from further interfering in the affairs of NBA Dutse Branch forthwith.
“That should Dr. Musa Aliyu, Esq. the Honourable Attorney General of Jigawa State fail, neglect and/or refuse to heed the advice and/or warning contained above, the President of the NBA should ensure that disciplinary action is taken against him immediately and without further recourse to him.
“Suleiman Tafida, Esq. and other staff of the Jigawa State Ministry of Justice whom you have caused to be suspended from their various offices within two weeks of your receipt of this letter.
“You are also further warned to desist from further interfering with the affairs of Dutse Branch of the NBA. Failure on your part to heed the above warning will result in the President of the NBA ensuring that disciplinary action will be taken against you without further recourse to you.
“On a final note, be further informed that the tenure of Nuhu Suleiman Tafida, Esq. and his Executives takes effect from 30th of September, 2021.”
The National Executive Committee of the NBA under then-President Olumide Akpata, in a communique on September 30, 2021, approved the implementation of the recommendations contained in the committee report.
The NBA NEC noted that it “particularly frowns at the actions of the Attorney General of Jigawa State─ Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, Esq and cautions him for his role in the NBA Dutse Branch election/leadership crisis and resolve as follows: ‘Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, Esq─ the Honourable Attorney General of Jigawa State be strongly advised to take immediate steps to reinstate Nuhu Suleiman Tafida, Esq. and the other staff of the Jigawa State Ministry of Justice whom he caused to be suspended from their various offices and positions, within 2 weeks.
“’The Honourable Attorney General should further be warned in writing to desist from further interfering in the affairs of NBA Dutse Branch forthwith.
“’That, should Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu─ the Honourable Attorney General of Jigawa State fail, neglect and/or refuse to heed the advice and/or warning contained above, the President should ensure that disciplinary action is taken against him immediately and without further recourse to him.’”
However, Aliyu has not faced disciplinary action from the association.