Sometimes ago, I was a 400 level student of law at Bayero University Kano in the year 2012 and that was equally the year I had my compulsory four (4) credit course moot court.

Memorably, when the case intended for me to argue almost came about before my Faculty lecturers known as panel of judges, I actually had no idea how to approach this most demanding panel of three learned gentlemen namely, Dr. Abubakar Isa, Dr. D.J Usman and mr. O Hussein.

Nonetheless, in view of the fact that my family and that of mr. I.G Waru’s have a very good cordial relationship, I decided to rush to his law office to sympathetically influence and/ or beseech him to draft my brief of argument. Cheers!

Consequently, when I arrived to his law office, I.G Waru & Co; I found him to be attending some of his clients at the time. Meanwhile, I had to wait for him in the reception room just for some fewer minutes before his Secretary could escort me to his main office. You know, I was indeed impressed by the strict observance of his law office protocols.

After letting him know of the reason why I went there, I gave him the copy of fact of the case I was instructed to argue on right from my Varsity…

If you know mr. Waru, you know him as an intelligent conversationalist, and if you truly know him, you know him as a teacher! Am I right?

Meanwhile, Oga Waru engaged me in both academic and in practical discussions on how I was supposed to tackle my moot court issues and/ or problems at hand.

Before I met him, with all sincerity of purpose and seriousness, I had expected and wanted him to just draft the brief and give it to me to go and memorize. But seeing that that would not help someone at my rung, he did what I never expected of him and that was not what every law student would have anticipated a lawyer to do for him in every season of moot court trials.

Do you guess what? Mr. Waru said no to preparing a soldier for war of which he would be absent to assist the soldier at the battle field if any need for that should arise. Just having that wisely said, I knew that this legal army general before me would not just hold my hand to fight my legal battle, but would rather let off my hand to see how I would fight my war. But both lawyers and soldiers are meant to fight their battles by themselves, right?

I still can’t forget what he emphasized on, that: it is only lawyering skill that a law student needs, and that a legal work done by any lawyer or any other person on his behalf does not make him a good lawyer or a good law student unless he has done a similar beautiful legal work by himself. By these encouraging and motivating words, I was made to prepare my brief of argument and then despite his tight schedules, he took all the necessary time to go through my Brief and made necessary observations, recommendations and corrections.

At this juncture, I would like to let you know that was how I managed to score A in my moot despite the panelist challenge.And that was surely what encouraged me to write a dessertation in that area of law and got B.Ever since then, Oga Waru has always been my source of inspiration in the legal profession.

In the same vein, consequent upon a long ASSU strike in the year 2013, which culminated into 013 class of BUK and others staying at home owing to suspension of our level 5 crashed program half way. I and my friend Sani Ismail Yaryasa opted to join a law firm. He went to S S Gezawa & co to stay pending when ASSU may likely call off the strike..I equally had decided to go back to I.G waru & Co. and make a productive stay at home. He gladly accepted me and made me part of his research team since I was not a lawyer then. And that was what marked the beginning of being in close contact with him. I used to kept him company to all courts within and outside jurisdictions.

Moreover, by April 2014 a backlog set of law graduates (who were unable to make it to the law school as a result of the strike) nationwide were admitted to the Nigerian law school and I was privileged to be one of them too. I dearly cherish my Lagos Compus 2014 April set as we are already a family.

It gladdens me to remember that I.G Waru has been very supportive to me throughout my stay in Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Law School. I must confess that I frequently used to receive a stipend from him. May Allah reward him abundantly.

To cut the story short, when I became a lawyer, Oga Waru did not ask me to apply to be a counsel in his law firm, I naturally retained the life membership I was having from non lawyer to a brand new wig.

MR. Ibrahim Garba Waru Esq is indeed worthy of emulation and has so much to be cherished in a gentleman s lifestyle. A part from being a happy family man, i knew him to be an erudite legal mind with a sound appreciation of the law. He is too professional to be unprofessional in running his firm. I have truly taped from his ocean of legal knowledge, ethics,experience and hardworking. He is a quintessential of an advocate who enjoys going to court every day. He is truly a candor in the truest sense of it. Anybody who comes into contact with him will surely be convinced that he is a hardworking and professional lawyer.The first strong feature associated with counsel he had mentored in his law firm, is confidence. Nobody intimidate me in court.That was the underground work of Oga Waru.
Among Lawyers he had trained in his law firm,some are principal partners in their private offices,magistrate,and public Lawyers working with the ministry of justice.

Above all, he is a devoted bar man whose commitments and contributions to the development of NBA Kano can not be overestimated. He has held several posts ranging from Secretary to NBA Kano and chaired so many committees both national and Branch level of the NBA kano Branch.

He has equally torched so many lives positively. He has been so concerned about the welfare of the young lawyers. He sponsored young lawyers to NBA conferences each year.This was the more reason why, when Allah the most high intended that we should serve our dear state at the ministry of justice, ,Oga Waru donated three hundred thousand naira to I and my brother Khalifa Hashim to share equally. He is a great philantrophist and that’s why he gives without looking back or being proud but for the sake of Allah.

Beside his active participation in the activities of the NBA kano Branch religiously, his contribution to continued legal education as a lecturer can hardly be ignored so easily.Oga Waru has been blessed with an outstanding ability to teach his students and have unanimous appreciation of the topic taught.Thats competency. A teacher is a always a leader. I mostly hear from his students that he is not only a lecturer but a teacher per excellence.He is humble one may wish to confirm by relating with him.He has always been a servant of the people any where you meet him.

Conclusion

From the foregoing discussion on how I was made a lawyer and the personality of the man behind the beginning of my success particularly the penultimate paragraph, I have the conviction that NBA needs a thousand of his likes to steer the affairs of the bar.

Muhammad Nazir Faruk Esq,APD

A legal practitioner based in kano
[email protected]