Tribute to Justice Dahiru Musdapher

Igrew up in our town of Babura to know him as just Dahiru Lauya. That was in the 70s. Then he had just returned from England where he studied law and was called to the English bar. Because there was no motorable road from Kano to Babura, we had a faint knowledge of our elites who had the education or opportunity to live in the city.

He started his law practice as a private lawyer at Kaloma Ali Chambers in Kano. My first eye contact with him was around 1975 when his brother, Shehu Mustapha, of blessed memory, and I transited in his Sani Ungogo residence in Fagge on our way from or to School, Federal Government College, Kaduna. The journey from Babura to Kaduna in those days was like going to the moon, but putting up in the Barrister’s home was what gave me the first opportunity of knowing him closely. Even at that tender age, I realised that he was humble and loved his extended family well.

In 1976 he was appointed the Attorney General of the old Kaduna State. During FESTAC 77, an international festival of black arts and culture which was hosted by Nigeria, a durban was held in Kaduna as part of the celebrations and for the few days the schools were closed, Shehu and I stayed in his house and watched most of the events on TV. That brief stay also gave me the insight that he was a workaholic that took every assignment as a duty that must be accomplished.

I was also opportune to meet him in his office in Kano when he later became the first indigenous Chief Judge of old Kano State around 1983. That was when I was an undergraduate student at Bayero University, Kano.

As he rapidly rose through the ranks from the Chief Judge to Federal Court of Appeal, up to the Supreme Court which culminated in his elevation to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, he had exhibited qualities of pragmatism, honesty, dedication to duty and above all the fear of God.

During this period up to his retirement years, I have met him on several occasions, especially in relation to community development activities. He was a Grand Patron of almost every community development associations in our area and did not relent in contributing to the development of his home town, local government area and state.

One day my Chairman in the Babura Consultative Forum, Malam Habibu Sani Babura, a retired lecturer with BUK, summoned me as the Secretary and Labaran Salisu Kanya, our Treasurer that Justice wanted to see us. We met him at his Kano residence. He told us that he was worried at the rising unemployment especially among the youth in Babura and he wanted to give the association a grant for the empowerment of youth and vulnerable women. That was how we received Five Million Naira from him.

On another occasion, I had cause to spearhead the renovation of the Gumel to Babura 33kV electrical line through communal efforts. The black out in Babura resulting from the falling of several poles and vandalism of materials was becoming a source of crises and discontent amoung the populace. I met the District Head of Babura, who is his brother, to discuss the issue and the way forward. It was an easy decision that Justice has to be notified. With a telephone call and putting the problem straight to him, he said “Engineer and you (Sarkin Bai) cannot bring such a matter that we will not do something”. That was how he, together with his son, Barrister Kaloma, contributed over half of the fund; and power was restored to the delight of our people.

Finally, one day when he came to spend some few days in his country home as he usually did, we went to greet him (pay homage) as usual. To my bewilderment, he began to thank me: “Thank you Makwabcina (my neighbor).” I couldn’t raise my eyes out of surprise. You know what? He told the others that “he supplied my house with water from his borehole when mine was down.” Did that simple gesture deserve such commendation from someone who had done so much for me and Babura?

That was Dahiru Lauya of blessed memory as I knew him. Allah Ya jikansa.

Engr. Abdurrazaq FNSE, Rijiyar Zaki, Kano Nakore,