Justice Ahmed Ubangari (OFR): A Chief Judge's Well Deserved Honour
- By Super Admin
- Published 08/2/2010
- News
- Unrated
In spite of his rise to the top in the legal profession as a state chief judge of Nasarawa state, honourable Justice Ahmed Yakubu Ubangari still humbles himself in a society where pride has almost replaced humility.
This is quite unusual and an irony for those who have made it to the top of the ladder of success in life to still condescend so low and fight for the upliftment of the down trodden.
The like of Justice Ubangari are very rare in the legal profession. He believes that all that he has achieved in life was purely by the grace of God.
His humble attitude tells you better that God is in charge and control of his life.
One legacy in the life of Justice Ubangari that is worthy of emulation especially by the younger generation is that he always tries to leave a positive impact that would be too difficult to be erase by the next generation.
Let me share this experience with you. On a day and date I cannot precisely remember, but it was in 2009 during a celebration I and a friend of mine visited Justice Ubangari at his official residence in Lafia. As we entered and got seated in the sitting room which is small in size and while still adjusting my sitting position to enable me take a proper glance at the enlargement photographs placed round the wall. Justice Ubangari emerged not in a wig but in white baban riga (agbada) and said “gentle men you are welcome, let us have a hand shake.”
His facial expression revealed that he had just woken up from sleep and it was still clear that the legal luminary was looking so tired.
We shared pleasantries of the celebration and in the course of our discussion, he said “I am taking time to have enough rest because I have a judgment to write tonight that would soon be delivered.” That is the herculean task Justice Ubangari has been doing for the past 37 years as a minister in the temple of justice in giving voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless and freedom to those injustice has been trampled upon.
To the best of my knowledge and credit to his integrity Justice Ubangari has never been found wanting in the dispensing of justice in the society. This explains why one cannot count him among the billionaire judges in the country even though he is a high profile judge.
Few weeks back, precisely on Tuesday, June 29,2010, Daily Trust on page 20, published the 2009 National honours awards to Nigeria and friends of Nigeria who have distinguished themselves for their contributions to both state and national issues aimed at advancing the country and in keeping it as one indivisible entity.
Among the list approved by the President and commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Federal republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan as recommended by “National Honours Award Committee” was the name of Honourable Justice Yakubu Ubangari who was nominated for Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) award.
To be among the over 4,000 Nigerians who have so far received the national merit award since its inception in October, 1963 out of a population of 140 million Nigerians is a well deserved honour.
More so, the honour is coming at a time when Justice Ubangari is about retiring from service into private life.
The federal government must be commended for initiating this policy of recognizing its citizens who have contributed their quota to the country’s growth and development, irrespective of occupation and socio-economic background.
Born on December 31, 1945 at Nasarawa Eggon, Nasarawa state to the family of Mr and Mrs. Yakubu Ubangari, he enrolled at the Junior Primary School, Umme between 1955-1958, where he obtained a primary IV certificate. From there, the proceeded to the senior primary school, Wamba from 1959-1961, and obtained a primary VII certificate. Having thus completed his primary education, Hon. Justice Ahmed Ubangari gained admission into Teachers’ College, Toro, in 1962 and in 1966 he obtained a Grade II Teachers’ Certificate.
He gained admission to the famous Ahmadu Bello University ABU), Zaria in 1971, where he successfully completed a Diploma programme in law in 1973.
Because of his love and ambition to join the honourable legal profession, soon after obtaining his Diploma in law, he applied for and gained admission once again into ABU Zaria, in 1975 for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programe which he successfully completed and was accordingly awarded with LL.B (Hons) in 1978.
Justice Ubangari went to the Nigeria Law School Lagos in 1979 and having passed his professional examination was called to the Nigerian Bar in the same year. The search for more knowledge took him to the University of Lagos in 1990 where he did and obtained a certificate in Advanced Legal Studies.
Hon. Justice Ubangari began his working career as a headmaster, first with Senior Primary School Andaha, between 1967 and 1968 and later with the Senior Primary School Mada Station in 1969.
He decided to part ways with the teaching profession and joined the defunct Benue-Plateau State judiciary in 1973 as a Registrar of Courts, Katsina-Ala. He was later appointed Registrar, Sharia Court of Appeal, Benue/Plateau and North-East states between 1974 and 1975. He became senior registrar, High Court, Jos in 1978, a post he held up to 1979.
Justice Ubangari was appointed a magistrate in 1980 and held the following magisterial appointments; magistrate grade II, Langtang, Plateau state 1980, senior magistrate II, Pankshin, Plateau state, 1981-1983; chief magistrate II, Keffi (then) Plateau state 1983-1985; chief magistrate II, Lafia (then) Plateau state 1986-1987.
He became the deputy chief registrar, High Court, Jos, Plateau state between 1987 and 1989 and later rose to the position of chief registrar, High Court, Jos in 1990, a position he held up to 1993.
Justice Ubangari was appointed a judge in the High Court of Justice, Jos, on October 1, 1993 and on the creation of Nasarawa state out of the Plateau state, he was reappointed a judge in the High Court of Nasarawa state in March 1997.
He was later appointed Chief Judge of Nasarawa state on May 6 1999 and sworn in on May 24, 1999.
He also held the following ad-hoc appointments; chairman, tribunal for the recovery of government fund and properties, Plateau state 1993- 1996 and chairman, robbery and fire-arms tribunal, Nasarawa state, 1997-1999 when all existing tribunals were scrapped by the federal government.
Presently, Justice Ubangari is the chairman, Nasarawa State Judicial Service Commission; Chairman, Nasarawa state criminal justice committee; governor of board of the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, a committee member of the appointment, promotion and discipline of the National Judicial Institute, Abuja from 2007 to date; and a member of the body of benchers of the Nigerian Law School.
His hobbies are farming and reading.
Hon. Justice Ubangari has travelled to the United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia, Holland, many African countries and to Saudi Arabia severally on pilgrimage. He is married and has children.
This is quite unusual and an irony for those who have made it to the top of the ladder of success in life to still condescend so low and fight for the upliftment of the down trodden.
The like of Justice Ubangari are very rare in the legal profession. He believes that all that he has achieved in life was purely by the grace of God.
His humble attitude tells you better that God is in charge and control of his life.
One legacy in the life of Justice Ubangari that is worthy of emulation especially by the younger generation is that he always tries to leave a positive impact that would be too difficult to be erase by the next generation.
Let me share this experience with you. On a day and date I cannot precisely remember, but it was in 2009 during a celebration I and a friend of mine visited Justice Ubangari at his official residence in Lafia. As we entered and got seated in the sitting room which is small in size and while still adjusting my sitting position to enable me take a proper glance at the enlargement photographs placed round the wall. Justice Ubangari emerged not in a wig but in white baban riga (agbada) and said “gentle men you are welcome, let us have a hand shake.”
His facial expression revealed that he had just woken up from sleep and it was still clear that the legal luminary was looking so tired.
We shared pleasantries of the celebration and in the course of our discussion, he said “I am taking time to have enough rest because I have a judgment to write tonight that would soon be delivered.” That is the herculean task Justice Ubangari has been doing for the past 37 years as a minister in the temple of justice in giving voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless and freedom to those injustice has been trampled upon.
To the best of my knowledge and credit to his integrity Justice Ubangari has never been found wanting in the dispensing of justice in the society. This explains why one cannot count him among the billionaire judges in the country even though he is a high profile judge.
Few weeks back, precisely on Tuesday, June 29,2010, Daily Trust on page 20, published the 2009 National honours awards to Nigeria and friends of Nigeria who have distinguished themselves for their contributions to both state and national issues aimed at advancing the country and in keeping it as one indivisible entity.
Among the list approved by the President and commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Federal republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan as recommended by “National Honours Award Committee” was the name of Honourable Justice Yakubu Ubangari who was nominated for Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) award.
To be among the over 4,000 Nigerians who have so far received the national merit award since its inception in October, 1963 out of a population of 140 million Nigerians is a well deserved honour.
More so, the honour is coming at a time when Justice Ubangari is about retiring from service into private life.
The federal government must be commended for initiating this policy of recognizing its citizens who have contributed their quota to the country’s growth and development, irrespective of occupation and socio-economic background.
Born on December 31, 1945 at Nasarawa Eggon, Nasarawa state to the family of Mr and Mrs. Yakubu Ubangari, he enrolled at the Junior Primary School, Umme between 1955-1958, where he obtained a primary IV certificate. From there, the proceeded to the senior primary school, Wamba from 1959-1961, and obtained a primary VII certificate. Having thus completed his primary education, Hon. Justice Ahmed Ubangari gained admission into Teachers’ College, Toro, in 1962 and in 1966 he obtained a Grade II Teachers’ Certificate.
He gained admission to the famous Ahmadu Bello University ABU), Zaria in 1971, where he successfully completed a Diploma programme in law in 1973.
Because of his love and ambition to join the honourable legal profession, soon after obtaining his Diploma in law, he applied for and gained admission once again into ABU Zaria, in 1975 for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programe which he successfully completed and was accordingly awarded with LL.B (Hons) in 1978.
Justice Ubangari went to the Nigeria Law School Lagos in 1979 and having passed his professional examination was called to the Nigerian Bar in the same year. The search for more knowledge took him to the University of Lagos in 1990 where he did and obtained a certificate in Advanced Legal Studies.
Hon. Justice Ubangari began his working career as a headmaster, first with Senior Primary School Andaha, between 1967 and 1968 and later with the Senior Primary School Mada Station in 1969.
He decided to part ways with the teaching profession and joined the defunct Benue-Plateau State judiciary in 1973 as a Registrar of Courts, Katsina-Ala. He was later appointed Registrar, Sharia Court of Appeal, Benue/Plateau and North-East states between 1974 and 1975. He became senior registrar, High Court, Jos in 1978, a post he held up to 1979.
Justice Ubangari was appointed a magistrate in 1980 and held the following magisterial appointments; magistrate grade II, Langtang, Plateau state 1980, senior magistrate II, Pankshin, Plateau state, 1981-1983; chief magistrate II, Keffi (then) Plateau state 1983-1985; chief magistrate II, Lafia (then) Plateau state 1986-1987.
He became the deputy chief registrar, High Court, Jos, Plateau state between 1987 and 1989 and later rose to the position of chief registrar, High Court, Jos in 1990, a position he held up to 1993.
Justice Ubangari was appointed a judge in the High Court of Justice, Jos, on October 1, 1993 and on the creation of Nasarawa state out of the Plateau state, he was reappointed a judge in the High Court of Nasarawa state in March 1997.
He was later appointed Chief Judge of Nasarawa state on May 6 1999 and sworn in on May 24, 1999.
He also held the following ad-hoc appointments; chairman, tribunal for the recovery of government fund and properties, Plateau state 1993- 1996 and chairman, robbery and fire-arms tribunal, Nasarawa state, 1997-1999 when all existing tribunals were scrapped by the federal government.
Presently, Justice Ubangari is the chairman, Nasarawa State Judicial Service Commission; Chairman, Nasarawa state criminal justice committee; governor of board of the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, a committee member of the appointment, promotion and discipline of the National Judicial Institute, Abuja from 2007 to date; and a member of the body of benchers of the Nigerian Law School.
His hobbies are farming and reading.
Hon. Justice Ubangari has travelled to the United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia, Holland, many African countries and to Saudi Arabia severally on pilgrimage. He is married and has children.
