By Sylvester Udemezue

1. I most respectfully and wholeheartedly congratulate a towering legal scholar, seasoned public servant, and distinguished Nigerian, Professor C. J. Dakas, SAN, on your well-deserved appointment as Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC). This appointment is a clear testament to your meritorious service, distinguished scholarship, and long-standing contributions to the development of law and justice in Nigeria. It is also a great gain for the legal profession and the Nigerian nation.

2. A native of Plateau State, Professor Dakas was born on 23 August 1967. He has carved out an extraordinary academic and professional trajectory. He was the best graduating student of the renowned Boys’ Secondary School, Gindiri, in 1986. He then proceeded to the University of Jos, where he graduated with First Class Honours in Law, the first and, for decades, the only such graduate from the UNIJOS Faculty of Law. During his undergraduate years, he won multiple awards, including Best Graduating Student in Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence, as well as State and University scholarships.

3. He holds two Master of Laws (LL.M) degrees: one from the University of Jos and the other from the New York University (NYU) School of Law, where he was a Hauser Global Scholar and Global Law School Program Scholar. He obtained his Ph.D. in Law from the University of Jos, and in October 2010, was appointed a Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence. He was admitted into the Inner Bar as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2012, at his first attempt.

4. Professor Dakas has made immense contributions to public service and legal reform. He served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Plateau State (2004–2006), earning respect for principled leadership and policy innovations. He has also served on several strategic national and professional panels and committees, including as a member of the Council of Legal Education and as a member of the Appeal Panel of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC).

5. An accomplished academic, Professor Dakas has over 90 publications, including authored and edited books, book chapters, and articles in peer-reviewed journals. He has presented more than 100 academic and professional papers at conferences, workshops, and seminars across Nigeria, South Africa, the UK, Canada, and the United States. His published works explore critical legal themes, such as constitutionalism, human rights, governance, and international law. His two leading academic books (International Law on Trial: Bakassi and the Eurocentricity of International Law and From Constitutions to Constitutionalism) stand out for their originality and thought leadership.

6. He has previously served as Chairman of the Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, where he supervised and achieved key institutional milestones, including the successful relocation of the Polytechnic to its permanent site and improvements in infrastructure and governance.

7. Professor Dakas is a member of several notable professional associations, including the International Association of Law Schools (IALS), Nigerian Society of International Law (NSIL), and the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT). His life and career exemplify academic excellence, patriotic service, and unassailable integrity.

8. As Nigeria seeks urgent, visionary, and grounded legal reforms to match its evolving socio-political context, your appointment as Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission comes at a time of great need. Your rare combination of academic distinction, legal expertise, administrative experience, and national insight makes you an ideal choice for the task.

9. On behalf of myself and The Reality Ministry of Truth, Law, and Justice (TRM), I pray that God grants you the wisdom, strength, and clarity of vision to lead the Commission to new heights. I trust that under your chairmanship, the Commission will experience institutional strengthening and deliver reform outputs that stand the test of time.

10. Once again, hearty congratulations, my dear elder brother, a great mentor and role model. Nigeria is indeed fortunate to have you at the helm of its law reform engine. I wish you a tenure filled with impact, innovation, and honour.

Respectfully,

SYLVESTER UDEMEZUE

Proctor,

The Reality Ministry of Truth, Law, and Justice (TRM)

(04 July 2025)

Tel: 08021365545.

Email: mails@therealityministry.ngo, udems@therealityministry.ngo.

Web: www.therealityministry.ngo.