Dr Monday O. Ubani


The  irrepressible constitutional and human rights legal practitioner,  unrepentant philanthropist, and pro-good governance advocate, Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani is a year older today, July 27.


Fondly hailed MOU by friends,  well-wishers and associates, the legal titan describes today as an occasion to celebrate God's faithfulness and grace in his life


"I am grateful to God who has stood by me through the high and low tides of life 


“July 27 of every year is always an opportunity for me to playback God's goodness, grace and back up  throughout my low and high moments. 


"God has always been my foundation, my  pillar and without him, I am nobody. What I am   today  could not have been possible without God’s mercy and faithfulness.


“Besides God, my family has also been very supportive. The love of my wife and children is unquantifiable and has spurred me to be the success story I am today. 


"Nigerians have also been kind to me and I appreciate every one of them. I celebrate everyone who has been a part of my life.”


From a young ambitious village boy to a legal practitioner, human rights activist, opinion moulder and a respected voice on national issues in the country.


 Ubani's life is a story of an unrepentant philanthropism and  advocacy for enthronement of rule of law, respect for human and peoples’ rights in Nigeria and beyond. 


Many recall how, on behalf of the people he  dragged the Federal Government to court over the mandatory Covid-19 vaccine and twitter ban, turning another chapter in his activism  to enshrine rule of law and hold the government accountable 


Ubani’s quest to impact humanity started way back in 2012 when he  contested and won the chairmanship position in the ever vibrant Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch and took the branch to the level that no previous or those after him had reached.


His leadership quality and friendship revived the divided branch and made it a very united branch that its voice was feared and respected nationally during his tenure. It was therefore very easy for him when he aspired to the position of the vice presidency at the national level.


He was adopted by the Eastern Bar Forum of lawyers in which he is a member and returned unopposed at the national election of the association that took place in 2016 and became elected with the highest vote even more than that of the president of the Association, an indication of his popularity within the legal circle.


From a remarkable tenure as a second vice-president, Ubani was elected as chairman of NBA-SPIDEL and with  his pragmatic leadership traits was able to revive the near comatose body into a robust and sought after arm of the NBA 


MOU's  philanthropic activities are boundless, but some are remarkable like  saving the life of Baby Somaya who had a successful heart surgery in India and came back to Nigeria to the waiting arms of MTN, the telecom giant and Praise, a musician who collaborated with MTN to donate the sum of ₦10m to the baby. The baby is today a landlady and living a normal life.


The legal practitioner's love for humanity prodded him to bring to limelight a lady who worked  at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos as a cleaner and in the course of her duty returned the sum of ₦12m lost money to the owner. That singular act of honesty attracted Dr Ubani and his Foundation, Onyekachi Ubani Foundation and they swung into action and got the lady introduced to Nigeria as the face of a true and honest Nigerian through the mainstream and social media.

The reward and applause to the lady came in torrents: awards, money gifts, employment opportunities and handshakes with the high and mighty in Nigeria. 

Ubani through his law firm  renders pro bono services to all and sundry, enabling many aggrieved Nigerians to get justice, which may have been denied them


The plethora of awards that adorn the walls of Ubani’s office and home are true attestation that the labour of this indefatigable humanitarian has not escaped the watchful attention of many credible local and international organizations.


Dr Ubani is married to Lady Faurstina and the union is blessed with four lovely children, one of whom is already following his step as a vibrant legal practitioner, a typical case of a calf watching as the mother cow chews curd