From Phrank Shuaibu
SHAIBU Ibrahim Atadoga is a Lawyer called to Bar in 1986, he has been in private practice since he was called to Bar, even though his private practice cannot be described as flourishing; he hails from Omala L.G.A. of Kogi State, and possibly from the same place with Alhaji Ibrahim Idris,the former Governor of Kogi State.
Politics started working for the benefit of his career when the then Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris put strong pressure on Kogi State to recommend the appointment of Shaibu Ibrahim Atadoga unto the Bench. When all those attempts failed at the initial stage, the ex-Governor appointed Ibrahim Shaibu as a Director in the Kogi State Ministry of Justice without any foundation in the Civil Service, and thereafter promoted as a permanent Secretary and Solicitor General of Kogi State. This appointed runs contrary to all service rules, yet it was condoned because he was ex-Governor Idris’ boy.
Knowing full well that the position of Permanent Secretary is a terminal position in the Civil Service both Ibrahim Shaibu Atadoga and Governor Idris both had their eyes on the Bench.
Worthy of commendation is that, Ibrahim Shaibu, a personal friend of the Attorney General of Kogi State along the ex-Governor were instrumental to the creation of the Customary Court of Appeal in Kogi State. When the Customary Court of Appeal was created, Hon. Justice Otta was made president but with less than two (2) years to retirement. Ibrahim Shaibu Atadoga being the most senior Judge after Otta was stage managed to take over as President of Customary Court of Appeal upon Otta’s retirement with less than two (2) years experience as a Judicial Officer. He is a product of politics so there is no wonder why he is now playing politics with that position or has allowed himself to be used as a pawn in the political desperation of Idris.
Perhaps a brief narration of the story of the swearing in of Idris by Ibrahim Shaibu Atadoga would explain the politics he played.
When the Chief judge under pressure from the former Governor to swear in Capt.,Wada, he diplomatically eased himself out of the place and refused to come back for the ceremony, the Attorney General quickly called on his willing ally, Ibrahim Shaibu to dress up for the ceremony. Ibrahim Shaibu who had already come there with his ceremonial dress to play out an already rehearsed drama quickly got dressed in the Judicial Red Rope to perform a function which he knew or ought to know was beyond his competence. As a matter of fact, the way the Attorney guarded him in to the hall simply demonstrated the desperation of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and his stooge, Ibrahim Shaibu Atadoga.
