By Is’haq Babatunde
People in positions of authority in Nigeria have been urged to emulate the exemplary leadership of the late Justice Mustapha Akanbi, the pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Arabic and Transnational Studies, University of Ilorin, Dr. Mahmud Danjuma Musa, made this plea during a Ramadan lecture in Ilorin, Kwara State, organized by the Ma’asalam Islamic Foundation, a foundation founded by late Justice Akanbi.
According to Dr. Musa, Nigeria’s growth and development depend on having leaders like Justice Akanbi, who served as president of the Court of Appeal diligently and transparently.
” The late Justice Mustapha Akanbi was an incorruptible judge, an honest community leader who stood by the truth at all times and in all circumstances. He didn’t leave any wealth behind for his children . He only bequeathed to them good name and exemplary conduct.
” His late son and former vice chancellor of Kwara State University( KWASU), Malete, Prof. Mohammed Mustapha Akanbi followed his footsteps before he also departed this world.
” I therefore enjoin Nigerians, especially those in positions of authority to emulate the exemplary conduct of the late Justice Mustapha Akanbi so that they can bequeath positive legacies to their children,” Musa said.
The guest lecturer praised the incumbent Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU), Professor Shaykh Luqman-Jimoh, for his support to the Ma’asalam Foundation.
He also commended the Akanbi family for their dedication to preserving the legacy of their late patriarch, Justice Mustapha Akanbi.
Dr. Musa encouraged Muslims to utilize the final stages of Ramadan to revitalize their spiritual growth, just as he emphasized the importance of sustaining righteous deeds beyond the holy month of Ramadan.
He therefore urged those blessed with wealth to extend a helping hand to the less privileged, saying that great rewards awaits those who show mercy ans compassion to other fellows.
Earlier, Professor Shaykh Luqman-Jimoh, who was the Chairman of the occasion, commended the visionary leadership of the late Justice Mustapha Akanbi in establishing the foundation and expressed gratitude to the management of the foundation for sustaining its legacy.
Malam Jibril Toyin Ali, the Coordinator of the Ma’asalam Islamic Foundation, highlighted the organization’s humanitarian efforts, which include providing aid to the needy and paying fines to secure the release of prisoners unable to afford them.
He shared a remarkable example of the foundation’s impact, recounting how they intervened to free a prisoner who had spent 60 years in the correctional center.
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