A colloquium for the Pious learning minds

ILORIN, Nigeria, June 10 -- A colloquium for the Pious learning minds

Last week, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) hosted the 8th annual National Seminar of the Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS). NURUDEEN YUSUF (200 Islamic and Common Law, Lagos State University) in this report, give a picture of the event as not only a colloquium but an assembly fostering unity among the budding Lawyers.

For five days, law students across Nigeria gathered at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) for the annual Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS) National seminar.

The seminar is an annual event for the Muslim Law students to learn outside the four walls of the classroom, exchange ideas and relate with one another. It was aimed fostering unity amongst the law students from various faculties of law.

This year’s was not a difference; it was spiced with educative programmes to give the students a wonderful experience. “Contemporary Legal Issues in the Light of Common and Islamic Law” was the theme of the seminar. On Wednesday, 23 May, not less than 200 delegates arrived from eleven tertiary institutions and were lodged at the Admiralty Lodge behind State House, GRA, Ilorin.

The schools in attendance are Amadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, University of Ibadan (UI), Bayero University Kano (BUK), Nasarawa State Unviversity Keffi (NSUK), University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Agowoye, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Uthman Dan Fodio University (UDU), Sokoto, Kogi State University and University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) amongst others.

Thursday, 24 May was the formal opening, and Business and Social Sciences (BSS) Lecture Theatre was the venue. Dignitaries at the event are; Prof. Abdul- Qadir Zubair, Yusuf Alli (SAN), Mr. Kareem Olatoye Sub Dean Faculty of Law, LASU, Dr. Bashir Omipidan; Sub Dean Faculty of Law University of Ilorin to mention a few.

Dr. Rasaq Adeleke the Head of Department of Public Law, Lagos State University (LASU) delivered a thought provoking lecture on the topic “Legal Education, Freedom of Religion and Challenges for Prospective Muslim Lawyers.”

On the dress code for Muslim law students, he said “most universities grudgingly accept it (hijab) on the basis of respect for right to freedom of religion of these ladies. Nevertheless, this is often met with disapproval and resistance from the authority of law school.”


According to him, “the victimization and harassment of Muslim female barristers in Nigerian courts because of the hijab has become a common phenomenon and poses a serious challenge to the Muslim female members of the profession to practise their profession in accordance with their faith.”

In Honour of Justice M. I Tanko, JSC a Qur’anic Competition was held. With a delegate representing each at the two categories of the competition, the competitors demonstrated their understanding of the Qur’an and tajwhid (Recitation) prowess. Concluding the first category, Amadu Bello Univerity (ABU), Zaria crushed others with 91 points to emerge first, Uthman Dan Fodio University (UDU), Sokoto 90 points; second, while University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) scored 88 points picked the third position.

Closing the second category, LASU came up with the first position with 92 points, UNILORIN second with 89 points while UNIABUJA gripped the third position with 87 points. The result was protested by the Amir (president) of the Uthman Dan Fodio University (UDU) Mallam Aminu Kalgo. He alleged that the panel was not right to have listed his school as fifth against their expectation of the first position.

At noon, a special Jumat service was held at the University’s Mosque. The Imam, Professor Agas speaking on the theme of the sermon “Jihad in Islam”. He said fight in the course of Allah is not synonymous with killing; it has nothing to with suicide bombings or being stereotype to the opposite religion.

But, human efforts deployed to portray Islam as a pious religion, making Islam attractive to others to accept, money spent in the course of promoting the religion either by feeding the poor or paying zakat and many more.

The evening session featured a lecture by Dr. Abdul Rasaq Alaro of the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin on the topic “Building an Islamic Home.” “The home is supposed to be a place peace and where happiness reigns. On the other hand, a house can be beautiful but lacks joy and happiness.”

To build a happy home, he implored the students to be careful in the selection of life partner. The future husband or wife must be a God fearing one that you can be confident and trust in.

To put to practice their knowledge of Law, the students slugged it out in a moot trial. The subject of contention was on Land and Constitutional Law on an Appeal from the appellate court to the Supreme Court for final hearing and judgement. The counsels were grouped into two; the Respondent and the Appellant.

Ibrahim Bashir from UNIABUJA led the Respondent (Federal Government) acting as the Attorney General of the Federation. Other counsels in council are; Toyin Muhammed-Awwal (UNILORIN), Aminu Kalgo (UDU), Hassan Ibrahim (UNIBEN), Sulaiman Muhammed (Kogi State University), Alhassan Aliyu (UDU), Muhd-Bello Abd-Allah (UDU).

Yusuf Abdul Rahman (LASU) led the Appellant council, other counsels are; Isiaq Adekunle (OAU), Muhammed-Nura Aliyu (ABU, Zaria), Dauda Yahaya (NSUK), Bashir Garba (BUK), Muiydeen Aderonmu (LASU), and Ahmed Abdul Rahman (UI).

The appellant contested the judgement of the court of Appeal and the trial court against the government acquisition of a land inherited by their client through the customary system. They argued that for the appellate court to have dismissed the appeal is a fundamental breach of human right as provided for in the constitution. Therefore, demand the compensation of N85 million and perpetual injunction restraining further trespass on the land.

On the other hand, the Attorney General of the Federation and his co-counsels argued and prayed that the Supreme Court up held the decision of the court of Appeal and dismiss the case for the lack of locus standi, want of merit because Mr. Adesanya the appellant has slept over his right for more than thirty years for based on the fact that “equity does not aid the indolent but the vigilant”. They further argued that Chapter II of the constitution is not justiciable and as enshrined in Section 6(6)(c).

The presiding Judges Abdullahi- Salihu Abdul- Rauf a partner at Yusuf O. Alli and Co and Imam Tamim Muhammed-Kaldeen of K. K. Eleja and Co both doubles as lecturer in the of Faculty Law, University of Ilorin. They Interjected several times during the counsels’ argument to experiment their understanding of the law and educated them where found wanting.

They commended the erudity deployed to the research and urged that the students learn more on the language of law because if procedure sneezes, justice actually catches cold. The judges went on recess before delivering the quasi judicial judgement.

Imam Tamim Muhammed-Kaldeen affirmed that the future of this noble profession is bright If budding lawyers can perform like this. Having gone through the fact, the trial court erred as the appellant have suffered injustice and thereby entitled to compensation.

Top of the fun was experienced during the tour of the city and finally at Emir of Ilorin Ibrahin Sulu Gambari’s ancient palace. The dream of many of the students was dashed when they were informed that the Emir was not in the country. However, they had fun moving around the ancient palace to explore the uniqueness of the Emirate that consists of not less than thirty palaces.

It was the turn of the NAMLAS night. An event many look forward to having told by their predecessors. It was the peak of the gathering and the social aspect of it. It commenced at around 9pm. Anchored by Brother Quazeem Adegoke from UNILORIN, the national executive officers were called upon to introduce and say some peculiar things about their persons.

Starting from Abdul-Azeez Adeleke(LASU); President, Abdul-Kabir Badmos(OAU) General Secretary, Aminat Dakeje (OOU, Ago-Iwoye) Vice President, Saheed Akingbade (UI) Assistant General Secretary, Jibo Abdullah (UNIABUJA) Assistant General secretary, to Muhammed Abdul-Mumin (UNILORIN) National Publicity secretary.

Others are; Usman Sherifatu (ABU, Zaria) Publicity secretary North, Ibrahim Olayinka (UNIBEN) Publicity secretary South, Abubakar Musa (LASU) Financial Secreatary, Maimunat Sa’eed (UNIABUJA) Treasure, Abbas Wardah (UNILORIN) Welfare Secreatary, Yakub Lawal (BUK) Editor-in-Chief, AbdulMushin Idris (NSUK) Auditor General and Ibn Mahmud Haruna (UNILORIN) Ex- Officio.

The delegates follow suit and it was fun all through.



Yusuf Abisogun a delegate from LASU was of the opinion that the seminar was a gathering of the pious learning minds. "This kind of event should be encouraged because it fosters peace among young people, I was able to learn new things what ordinarily I cannot acquire in the class, I met new people, we interacted, exchange ideas and think as one big family. In fact, our government should think on how they can bring us together because it is very important.