Protocol

I am specially grateful to God to be alive to witness this day, and most privileged and honoured to be among the creme la creme, titans and lions in the legal profession converging to honour an elephant in the legal profession and justice sector in person of Hon. Justice Sulyman D. Kawu, OFR, Chief Judge of Kwara State. Hon. Justice Kawu was born on 4th January, 1958 to the family of late jurist, Hon. Justice Saidu Kawu, JSC who was also the first Chief Judge of Kwara State. Hon. Justice Sulyman D. Kawu, OFR, attended United Primary School, Ilorin between 1963 - 1970 where he obtained his primary school leaving certificate. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Ilorin between 1971 - 1975 where he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC). He was at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Ile-Ife between 1978 - 1982 along the likes of Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN, J. S. Bamgboye, SAN and other legal titans numerous to mention and obtained his LL.B (Hons) certificate.

He proceeded to Nigerian Law School, Lagos between 1982-1983 where he obtained his B.L certificate and was subsequently called to Nigerian Bar in 1983. He did his NYSC in Niger State with Niger State ministry of Justice in Minna between 1983 - 1984. He started his judicial carrer as a Magistrate in Kwara State judiciary in 1984 and remained so until 1994 when he was appointed as justice of high Court of Justice of Kwara State. He served as a justice of High Court for 28 years the last ten of which as the Chief Judge.

His lordship attended several conferences, workshops and seminars which include among others:

• Induction Course for Newly Appointed Judicial Officers Organized and conducted by National Judicial Institute, May 1995,
• Refresher Course for High Court Judges, Kadis and Judges of Customary Court of Appeal, April 2002.
• Training Workshop on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Arbitration for Judges, April 2003.
• Numerous All Nigerian Judges Conferences.

My lord has discharged several assignments both National and local creditably which include among others:

• Chairman, Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Crisis between the Students of Federal Polytechnic Offa and Offa Vigilante Group – 2002.
• Chairman, National Assembly, Governorship And States Legislative Assemblies Election Tribunal, Niger State. – 2007.
• Chairman, Kwara State Local Government Election Appeal Tribunal Ilorin. – 2010
• Chairman Judicial Commission of Enquiry into Iloffa/Odo-Owa Communal Clash. – 2017.
• Member, Finance Committee of the Body of Benchers. 2017 - 2020

My lord is a multiple award winner and holder of several Commendation's letters; which include among others;

• Merit Award by Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch – 2015
• National Merit Award (Undergraduate) University of Ife, Ile-Ife (Now Obafemi Awolowo University) – 1978
• Meritorious service to Judiciary and the Bar award by Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch – December, 2022.
• Several letters of Commendation by the Performance Evaluation Committee of Judicial Officers of Superior Courts Of Record, National Judicial Council, Abuja in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018 etc

My lord is a prolific writer. He has presented several papers and made contributions in several journals both National and International which include among other;

• The Courts, adjournments and attainment of justice; a paper delivered at the biennial law week of NBA, Ilorin at the Kwara State library complex - 1998.
• Court administration: a paper presented at an intensive workshop for magistrates, state counsel and police prosecutors in Kwara state, 2010 at the State Banquet Hall, Ilorin.
• Granting interlocutory application: pertinent considerations; a paper presented at the induction course for newly appointed Judges and Kadis at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja -2012.
• Proceedings in interlocutory applications: stay of executions; stay of proceedings etc. A paper presented at the 2014 induction course for newly appointed Judges and Kadis at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, 2014.
• Religious rights in a pluralistic world – the Nigerian experience at the symposium held at Brigham Young University (BYU) Provo Utah, USA – 2016.
• Judicial ethics and code of conduct delivered at the virtual refresher course for Judges and Kadis at National Judicial Institute Abuja -2021.

My lord is an epitome of good character, humility, decorum, a gentleman per excellence and a life bencher.

Today's valedictory court session is akin to what is known in the military as "pulling out of barrack". In the military, a general who has acquired sophisticated intelligence training cannot be retired; however, must be pulled out of barracks after a meritorious service to the country. This is more so in the judiciary, how could we dare say, an erudite jurist, an incorruptible judge, a judge with wisdom of King Solomon, friend of the Bar and leader of legal profession, retires?. This may be contemptuous of anyone to say. However, we gather here today, to celebrate a cerebral judge, a judicial officer strict sensu, an honest man, accessible individual, erudite jurist, master of rolls and a father, who is exiting the bench of Kwara State high Court of Justice as the 6th substantive Chief Judge of Kwara State by taking a bow from rigours of courtroom sitting from 9.am till God's know time daily, writing of rulings and judgement and attending to other official engagements and nothing more.

My lord the Bar cannot afford that you retire, not at this time sir. Three individuals don't retire as long as God blesses them with sound health; a man with knowledge and wisdom, a leader and a father. Your lordship fits in the above three. As a knowledgeable one, you cannot just go on retirement with all your knowledge, experience and wisdom, doing so will be detrimental to the judiciary, the Bar, the State and the country at large. As a leader of the profession, you cannot wave us bye now simply because you are exiting judicial service, you will create a vacuum in our ranks, I am sure you wouldn't want that my lord. As a father, who is exiting service after meritorious service to the nation but leaving children, friends and associates in the active legal practice will most enjoy his rest upon knowledge that all of us are doing fine. My lord, as for the Bar, we will only allow you to rest but not to retire, as we will continue to consult you, seek your advice and tap from your wealth of experience, who say we your children at Bar won't foment trouble and bring the mess for you to clear for us.

My Lords, learned senior advocates, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen permit me to single out giant strides being embarked upon by his excellency, the executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq by a way of filling the infrastructural gap deficit in the our Courts. We acknowledge the state of the earth renovations embarked upon by your administration across our Courts especially Magistrates and Area Courts. However, like Oliver Twist, we shall continue to ask for more. Our Courtrooms especially, High Courts and Judges chambers are not befitting of our judges’ status. The Courtrooms require remodelling and judges’ chambers lack basic amenities like befitting furniture, toilet facilities etc. More Courtrooms need to be provided as the existing Courtrooms are not enough, this hinders speedy and effective dispensation of justice as most of our Judges and magistrates still share Courtrooms. This delays justice, and when justice is delayed, it is susceptible to denial. The Welfare of our Judges need to be upgraded and given the high priority it deserves so as to avoid our judges suffering serious illness and untimely death while in service, this will go a long way to boost their morale and ensure effective discharge of their responsibilities. Our wish is to witness more days like this when they will be retired to their homes and not to hospital or grave, while in active service.

Let me seize this opportunity to appreciate your excellency on your constant support to the Bar which include recently, the donation of the sum of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) for 2022 Annual Bar Dinner last December held in honour of the Hon. Justice Sulyman D. Kawu, OFR among other supports. Your Excellency is a man of few words but large actions. This is evidenced in your developmental projects scattered all over the state. It is our belief that your excellency still very much remembers the promise of bus and land made to the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch on the visitation of the past executive committee of the Association to you on 2nd September, 2020 sir. The Bar will appreciate the redemption of your Excellency's promise by taking delivery of the bus and land in the next few days if not hours sir. Be rest assured sir, that the Bar will cooperate and support your administration to ensure your success.

My lord, every time I had privilege to appear before you, my utmost intention has always been to emerge victorious because, I know that my opponent would not appeal, and if he does, he won’t be successful. This is so because, God speaks through your lordship’s judgments.

My lord, as you set out to exit the active service today, I pray unto God Almighty not to retire you from life and its activities but to take over all your endeavours and bless you with long life, sound health so that you can enjoy your retirement. Thank you all for your rapt attention.