The body of benchers [BoB] has appointed a Former Chairman of the Body, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu as the Chairman of the Election Malpractice Panel.

The Committee as set up by the Body of Benchers is to look into reports of electoral malpractices surrounding the last NBA General election and the issue of the Law Society of Nigeria.

Newsmen reported that the Body of Benchers at its emergency meeting held earlier today, Tuesday, January 24, 2023, passed a vote of confidence on its Chairman, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN. This came on the heel of calls for his resignation by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Y.C. Maikyau, OON, SAN over allegations of misconduct leveled against an erstwhile partner in the Chairman’s law firm. Insider sources have it that the Benchers insisted that the Body lacks the vires to reconsider the finding contained in the Initial Member Direction of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, which had earlier held that the partners of the firm have no case to answer in respect of the allegation of misconduct against the erstwhile partner.

A peep at the profile of the new committee chairman reveals that Mr. Bashir Dalhatu, the Prime Minister of his Emirate, (Wazirin Dutse), Compassionate, Knowledgeable, and a lawyer of the highest repute graduated from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and later obtained his LLB (JD) from Lagos. Shortly thereafter he proceeded to London for his postgraduate degree in Law. A professional administrative Officer at Kano State Ministry of Works and Ministry of Agriculture. Mr. Bashir, soft spoken, could move mountains with his calmness. He has meritoriously served his country at different echelons, including Minister of Transport and Aviation, Minister of Power and Steel and Minister of Internal Affairs. He was also the State Secretary for the National Party of Nigeria, Assistant National Legal Adviser, Executive Member and Chairman of the Think Tank of the Presidential Campaign, Member of the Executive Committee of the top political party, the ANPP as well as National Secretary of another top political party, the ANC among so many others.

Wazirin Dutse, Mr. Dalhatu was the Chairman, Body of Benchers, the highest position a lawyer could hold in the legal professor, he was a member of the Board of Directors for the Nigerian Ports Authority, a Member of the Kano State Judicial Service Commission, a Member for the Review of the Nigerian Constitution Commission, the Chairman, Committee on Federal Capital Territory Constituent Assembly, An authoritative voice and member of the Nigerian Bar Association as well as the International Bar Association.

His recognition and promotion by his people through The Emir of Dutse, HRH, Alhaji (Dr) Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi, as the Wazirin Dutse, (The Prime Minister of his Emirate with over two million people) came at no surprise—a most deserving honor. In his rendition it was echoed loudly that Mr. Dalhatu’s choice by his people was in recognition of hard work, sincerity of purpose, humane disposition, coupled with the zeal to serve humanity, considering his dynamism, tolerance and patience, which are the hallmark of his character. He continues to service his People and Country in different capacities— currently the Vice Chairman of Freedom Radio Kano and The Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Moddibo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria.