Around 2016/2017 an agile not very tall friendly man came tothe office asking about my head of litigation, Aminu Sadauki, at the reception.
After they had a long chat and banter and he left, my HOL asked ‘you read thecase of Aminun Kano v. Nigerian Army in the law school?” I anxiously answeredin the affirmative. Then he said to my greatest shock: “that was Brig. Gen.Aminu!” (of course I only read the principle/s of condonation in line with S171 AFA as established in the case not its entire history). My HOL took time totell me a lot about the history of the case and the doggedness and the strongupright principle which late Aminun-Kano stood for.I was shocked yesterday (30/11/19) when I first read abouthis death (8/11/2019) via an article written by one Abdullahi Dan-Asabepublished by Daily Trust Newspaper on 30/11/19.
Aminun-Kano was represented in his locus classicus case by aDikko and Mahmoud’s team led by its managing partner, AB Mahmoud SAN. Forgetabout the fact that he was been represented all through by a team led bysomeone I see as one of the most talented, advocate Nigeria has ever made, thelate General had a lot of confidence in the course he was fighting. I rememberhow his namesake, my HOL, was demonstrating how the General was beating hischase in confidence and making comments like “we will show them this is not alawless country/banana republic”(paraphrasing). No wonder, his then commander,Brig.Gen. SA Owuama mentioned that the late General had been “in the eyes ofthe storm” since when he was a Major in the Nigerian Army. Indeed, byAbdullahi’s article he had been in the eyes of the storm since from themilitary school Zaria.
To justify the accolades rained on him, here’s the snippetfrom his case with the army:
Aminun-Kano was the Commander of the Nigerian Army School ofFinance and Administration (NASFA) in Lagos. In the course of his duties, hecame across the records of about 5 senior officers, one of whom is Brig. Gen(then, Col.) PA Toun who allegedlyclaimed to have obtained a HND certificate at NASFA which in reality was nottrue. Aminun-Kano therefore wrote letters to various institutions and the armyhigher command to disclaim such results. It’s a known fact that the Nigerianfactor of the untouchables has cut across several sectors including themilitary. The action of late Gen. Aminun-Kano did not go down well with thethen Military top commandos. He had apparently touched the untouchables. He wasfirst forced to withdraw his letter which he refused, but was later forced towrite an apology letter which contains ‘no remorse’, as acknowledged by hiscommanding officer. That being not enough, he was court martialed and convictedon a 7 count charge bordering on disobedience and issuances of false documents(i.e. his disclaimer letters) around 2005. That was what set him on a journeyto the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court who both quashed the conviction ofthe Court Martial. Even though, the decision of the Supreme Court, the leadjudgement of which was delivered by the current CJN, IT Muhammad was based onlyon two live issues of jurisdiction, going through the fact of the case one mustagree that the decision of the court would have remained the same if at alltheir lordships chose to delve into the other issues bordering on whether hewas right to have exposed the alleged falsification of results by those seniorofficers.
I think I can remember not less than 3 visits of the lateGeneral to our office with his very friendly posture. I developed so muchliking for him from the story of his doggedness in the midst of wolves and hishumility in the midst of civilians. No wonder, as Mr. Abdullahi wrote, he wasfound trustworthy enough to be part of the Presidential committee on probe ofthe arms deal.
Late Brig Gen. Aminun-Kano Maude has fought a good fight asa self made fearless General and has also fought a good fight in sick bed. Hehas written his name in the Nigerian legal history till eternity. May Allahmake the test he has gone throughout his life an expiation for hisshortcomings; protect his family; and grant him jannatul-firdaus.
Indeed, heroes die, but their names never die. I hope beyondthis requiem, writers and authorities will find a way of immortalising his name.
Hussaini Hussaini could be reached at [email protected].
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
