Government of Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Oni Uyì, Oni Èye (Ekiti Indigene of the Week) 8th – 14th August, 2021

August 12, 2021

Apata Adedayo Toba (SAN)
Retired Solicitor-General of the Federation & Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice

This week, we are pleased to feature Apata Adedayo Toba as our Oni Uyì, Oni Èye of the week.

Mr Adedayo Apata (SAN) recently retired as the Solicitor-General of the Federation & Permanent Secretary as well as the Chief Accounting Officer of the Federal Ministry of Justice. These twin positions placed him as the Deputy Attorney-General of the Federation.

He also served as Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Ekiti State, from 2011-2014 during the first term of the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

He is a highly resourceful and experienced advocate, legal advisor, technocrat and consummate administrator who is accustomed to providing leadership for legal practitioners and others in shaping policy formulation and implementation, prosecution or defence of cases and other legal matters.

He also offered high-quality legal services to the federal government of Nigeria and associated entities in diverse areas of competence with a focus on strengthening the rule of law and deepening good governance.

He has personally handled/led or participated in some notable cases which include:

SUPREME COURT CASES

  1. CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA V. INTERSTELLA COMMUNICATIONS LTD & 2 ORS – [2018] 7 NWLR PT. 1618 PG. 294; (2017) LPELR-43940(SC) – requirement for HAGF’s consent under S. 84 of SCPA where there is prior negotiation or part settlement of judgment debt.
  2. CENTRE FOR OIL POLLUTION WATCH V. NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION – (2018) LPELR-50830(SC) – locus standi of NGOs in environmental pollution cases.

COURT OF APPEAL CASES

  1. MUSA BABA PANYA V. THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA & 2 ORS – [2018] 15 NWLR PT. 1643 PG. 395 – status of FCT and its entitlement to being represented in FEC by a Minister.
  2. ELEPHANT GROUP PLC V. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER & ANOR – (2018) LPELR-45528(CA) – need for ONSA to issue license for the importation of Urea as part of effort to enhance national security.

HIGH COURT CASES

  1. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION V. INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA (IPOB) – SUIT NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/871/17 – proscription of IPOB.
  2. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION V. ISLAMIC MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA – SUIT NO. FHC/ABJ/CS/876/2019 – proscription of IMN.

APPEARANCE AT ICJ

He also had the privilege of presenting Nigeria’s Country Statement on the Legal Consequences of the Separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius at a special session of the International Court of Justice, The Hague, the Netherlands which was held from 3rd to 6th September 2018.

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES

i)         Nigerian Bar Association.
ii)        Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators.

He has attended several workshops, seminars and courses home and abroad.

During his retirement service, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) described him as a person who is committed to the ideals of a better justice sector.

As an affirmation of the character and integrity of this son of the Land of Honour, the AGF immortalized Mr Apata by naming the Ministry’s E-library after him.

Thank you for serving your fatherland and we wish you a blissful retirement!

Last modified: August 12, 2021

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