I was saddened by the news of the demise of a revered senior member of the Bar, an elder statesman, the doyen of Senior Advocates of Nigeria in Kwara State, and more personally – my father, Dr Aliyu Alarape Salman, SAN, which event took place on Sunday, 7 January 2024.
Late Dr Salman, SAN was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1968, and started his career as Counsel at the Sokoto State Ministry of Justice, where he rose to the position of Deputy Solicitor-General. He was subsequently appointed as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kwara State in 1975, until he resigned in 1978 to establish his private law firm, SARAA Chambers, which firm, to the late doyen’s credit, has produced numerous judicial officers and senior members of the Bar.
Dr Salman was admitted into the inner Bar on 27 February 1987, the second indigene of Kwara State to be so elevated, and third from Northern Nigeria. An astute Bar man, he had served at various capacities, including as Third Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association. He will be fondly remembered for his many positive attributes, one of which is his legendary punctuality – he was known to arrive at functions so early to the embarrassment of the organizers. He continued in this remarkable culture even beyond his retirement from active practice.
I commiserate with his wife and children, particularly our colleagues in the Bar, Salman Alhaji Salman, and Aminat Lukman Lawal, the Salaman Ake family, as well as our colleagues of the Ilorin Branch, on this irreparable loss. The entire NBA shares in this loss and we mourn with you.
I pray that Allah (SWT) comforts his family, friends, and the Nigerian Bar Association. May Janata’l Firdaus be Alhaji’s abode. Amin!
Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN
PRESIDENT
