Professor Yusuf Dankofa, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and one of the lawyers who defended the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2019 presidential election, has died aged 61.
Okay.ng understands that Prof. Dankofa, who was known for his notable contributions to law and social justice died of an undisclosed cause at the time of filing this report.
Our correspondent gathered that lectures were halted on Monday at the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, to mourn his loss.
Prof. Dankofa, who hailed from Kano State was born in Ibadan in 1963. His academic journey began at Omolewa Nursery and Primary School in Oritamefa, Ibadan, followed by his secondary education at Ahmadiyya Grammar School, now Anwar Islam Grammar School, Eleiyele, Ibadan.
He furthered his studies at the University of Sokoto, now Usman Danfodio University, where he obtained an LL.B Hons in Law in 1987, subsequently earning his BL from the Nigerian Law School in Lagos in 1988.
He later joined the Faculty of Law at Ahmadu Bello University as an Assistant Lecturer in 1989, eventually rising to the position of full Professor of Law in 2015.
Throughout his career, he displayed a fervent commitment to social justice, focusing on International Human Rights Law and Development Law, particularly advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples and socio-economic inclusion.
His scholarly achievements were extensive, including the publication of over 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals and participation in numerous local and international conferences, where he presented papers on various legal areas.
It can be recalled that the late professor had lost his wife in 2019.
Atiku, who took to his X account (formerly Twitter) commiserated with Prof. Dankofa in the following words:
I received with sadness news that one of my counsels at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Prof. Yusuf Dankofa, has lost his dear wife, Hajiya Jamila Yusuf Dankofa. I pray that Almighty Allah forgives her sins and grants her eternal rest in Al-Jana Firdauz.
