22/03/2022
Hon. Mohammed Ndayako SAN
Tambarin Nupe
“A legal Luminary and Political Icon”
Early/Personal Life
Honorable Mohammed Kudu Ndayako was born in Bida, Niger state where he also grew up on the 12th of August 1966. He attended Army Children School Kaduna from 1972-1976 and then completed his primary education at Model Primary School, Bida in 1978. He obtained his O’level certificate in 1983 from Government College, Bida. He obtained a diploma in Sharia and Civil Law from Institute of Admin. ABU Zaria in 1986 and finally an LLB (HONS) with Sharia in 1989 from University of Maiduguri. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990. Mohammed Ndayako then proceeded to obtain a master’s in public administration in 2005. He has over 30 years of legal experience and is the principal partner of Mohammed Ndayako & Co., Legal Practitioners/ Consultants, Minna Niger state. He is married to one wife and is a father and grandfather to many.
Legal Career
Mohammed’s legal career began at MESSRS Sani Mohammed Kuso & CO, Dendo Chambers Minna where he was posted for his Law school Externship. Soon after he was called to bar, he was then posted to the private firm of Mazi Ukpabi & Co, Emma Chambers for his National Youth Certificate Corps. Here he was empowered with important roles and exposed further to litigation in Nigeria. After his NYSC year, he returned to Dendo Chambers and joined as a Junior counsel and rose to the rank of Principal counsel and head of chambers. In 1995, he was deployed by the chambers to act as Board Secretary & Legal Adviser at IBB specialized hospital where he was responsible for representing the interest of the Board in any disputes. He held the position for over 5 years before deciding to establish his own law firm. The law firm was established in Minna, Niger state in 2001 and has been running successfully ever since. The scope of service the firm provides includes and not limited to Civil and Criminal Litigations Prosecution and Defence, election petitions, Banking and Commercial Practice, Legal Secretaries and advisers to companies and arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Service.
Political career
On June 2nd, 2003, Mohammed was elected and sworn in as a member of the Niger state House of Assembly. Played several roles under this capacity and also as the only lawyer in the House at the time. Mohammed also acted as the Chairman House Committee on Judicial Matters between 2003-2007. He was also a running mate of Umar Nasko in the 2019 Gubernatorial elections of Niger state.
Notable Achievements/Merit Awards/Appointments/Certifications
As a member of the legislature, Mohammed sponsored and personally drafted most of the he bills that were eventually passed into Law, these include: A BILL FOR A LAW TO ESTABLISH THE NIGER STATE SCHOOL OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY; A BILL FOR A LAW TO ESTABLISH THE IBRAHIM BADAMASI BABANGIDA UNIVERSITY, LAPAI. (A state-owned University); A BILL FOR A LAW TO ESTABLISH THE NIGER STATE UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION BOARD; A BILL FOR A LAW TO ESTABLISH THE NIGER STATE PENSIONS BOARD; A BILL FOR A LAW TO ESTABLISH THE NIGER STATE LAW REFORM COMMISSION; A BILL FOR A LAW TO ESTABLISH THE NIGER STATE HOSPITAL SERVICES MANAGEMENT BOARD.
Barrister Ndayako was additionally appointed as a member of the Committee to Appraise Local Government System and Administration in Niger State by the Executive Governor of Niger State in 2007. In this capacity, he was saddled with the responsibility to, among other things, articulate the Constitutionality of the Law for the creation of Local Governments and the requirements for the creation of Local Governments under the Constitution. He was also appointed as a Notary Public for Nigeria by the Chief Justice of Nigeria in 2008.
He was rightfully and deservingly appointed as Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Minna Branch between 2016-2018. Furthermore, Barr Mohammed Ndayako participated in a case which bordered on the interpretation of s.294 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He highlighted that Judges must adhere to the provision of the constitution and must provide their opinion in writing. As a result of his influence, even judges of lower courts are wary to abide to the provision.
He holds several certificates including Certificate in Legislative Drafting from the institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Lagos: Certificate of Merit from Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria. He is a respectable member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, ICMC Nigeria.
Publications and Papers
“Leadership in Nigeria Organizations: (a case study of the Niger State Urban Development Board)”; “Multi-Door Court House and Congestion of Cases in Courts: (a case study of the Niger State High Court of Justice)”. Papers which he wrote as part of his dissertation for the award of master’s in public administration and for the award of Professional Diploma in Conflict and Development Studies respectively which are yet still valid today. He presented a paper; “ROLE OF LAWYERS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE” at the NBA Minna Bar Week in 2014 and “RULE OF LAW AS A FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY” which he presented at the NBA Suleja Bar Week in December 2014.
Mohammed Ndayako SAN is a humble, charismatic, hardworking and Calculative member of the legal profession and an inspiration to anyone who knows him.
Credit: Aisha Jamila Ndayako, ESQ.
