Tributes have continued to pour in from across Kano State following the death of Barrister Maryam Ahmad Abubakar, a respected legal practitioner and human rights and development activist, whose passing has drawn emotional reactions from colleagues, development workers, and civil society organisations.
Barrister Abubakar, who was the Director of Programmes at the Centre for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA), died on Monday after a brief illness.
Many of her colleagues and associates took to various social media platforms to mourn her, describing her as a committed legal practitioner and a passionate advocate for justice, accountability, and women’s rights.
They said her death was a great loss not only to her immediate family but also to the legal profession and the broader development and human rights community in Kano State and beyond.
Until her passing, the late lawyer was an active member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kano and Ungogo branches. She was also widely recognized for her consistent engagement in advocacy for the rule of law, social justice, and good governance.
Rabi’u Shamma, a development advocate and educationist, described her death as shocking and painful.
“Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. I received the news of Barrister Maryam Ahmad Abubakar’s passing with great sadness and shock. We were colleagues from our university days and worked together in Kano’s development sector. We also shared struggles, especially at the Kano Youth Coalition for Advocacy and Development, where I served as chairman for many years. Allah ya jikanta da rahama,” Shamma wrote.
Also reacting, Barrister Nura Ahmad Abubakar described her death as a major setback for the human rights and development space and the legal profession in Kano.
“The death of Barrister Maryam Ahmad Abubakar is a great loss to Kano’s human rights and development sector and the legal profession. She served with grace, intellect, and strength,” he stated.
In another tribute, Dr. Musa Abdullahi Sufi described the late lawyer as an embodiment of compassion, courage, and commitment to justice.
“She dedicated her legal career to defending the poor, the vulnerable, and the voiceless. Our work together across humanitarian and human rights initiatives revealed her exceptional leadership in advocacy,” he said.
Similarly, Comrade MK Adam Rano recalled her role as one of the founding members of the Kano Civil Society Forum during her undergraduate days.
“Today, we lost a sister, a fellow activist, and a human rights and development advocate. She was intelligent, gentle, transparent, and trustworthy. May the Almighty forgive her and comfort her family and the entire human rights community,” he wrote.
Barrister Maryam Abubakar is remembered for her integrity, selfless service, and tireless advocacy for justice.
