Yohanna Madaki
Encyclopedia
Colonel Yohanna Ateyan Madaki (1941 - 2006) was Governor of Gongola State
and then of Benue State
, Nigeria
during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida
.
Local Government Area in Kaduna State
. After completing his primary education he enlisted as a private in the Nigerian Army. He progressed to Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna
, receiving a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Army on completion of his course.
He saw active service during the Nigerian civil war
. Later he served in various posts, including Colonel General Staff in the 2nd mechanized division, Ibadan
. He was posted to the Nigerian Army Legal Services Department, 1984-85, and was a member of the Special Military Tribunal, Ibadan Zone (1984-1985).
While posted in Ibadan, he read for his Law Degree at the University of Ibadan
, completed his studies at the Nigerian Law School
and was called to the Bar in 1985.
In his brief administration of Benue State he was not able to achieve much.
While governor of Gongola State in 1985, in a controversial action he sacked the Emir of Muri
in the present day Taraba State
, saying "I have dealt a lethal blow to feudalism." His grounds were the confiscation of land by the Emir from the local people. The land was returned to the original owners.
. He was engaged in many legal battles, often providing service free of charge to needy people, particularly those in the military.
He engaged in a prolonged legal battle to save former military governor of Rivers State
, Major General Zamani Lekwot
from execution.
In later years he became the national legal adviser of the People's Democratic Party
(PDP).
In this role, in May 2003 he described a trip to various countries of the campaign organisation of All Nigeria People's Party
(ANPP) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari
, as an act of treason.
Colonel Yohanna Ateyan Madaki (rtd) died on 21 May 2006 in a London hospital after a brief illness.
Gongola State
Gongola State is a former administrative division of Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from Adamawa and Sardauna Provinces of North-Eastern State, together with the Wukari Division of the then Benue-Plateau State; it existed until 27 August 1991, when it was divided into two states -...
and then of Benue State
Benue State
Benue is a state in the Middle-Belt region of Nigeria with a population of about 2.8 million in 1991. Tiv, Idoma, and Igede are spoken predominantly. There are other ethnic groups as well. These include Etulo and Abakwa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
.
Background
Yohanna Madaki was born in 1948 in Zuturum, Zangon KatafZangon Kataf
Zangon Kataf is a Local Government Area in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Zonkwa.It has an area of 2,668 km² and a population of 316,370 at the 2006 census. The people are predominantly...
Local Government Area in Kaduna State
Kaduna State
-History:The state is the successor to the old Northern Region of Nigeria, which had its capital at Kaduna. In 1967 this was split up into six states, one of which was the North-Central State, whose name was changed to Kaduna State in 1976. This was further divided in 1987, losing the area now part...
. After completing his primary education he enlisted as a private in the Nigerian Army. He progressed to Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna
Kaduna
Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State in north-central Nigeria. The city, located on the Kaduna River, is a trade center and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. The population of Kaduna is at 760,084 as of the 2006 Nigerian census...
, receiving a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Army on completion of his course.
He saw active service during the Nigerian civil war
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967–15 January 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra...
. Later he served in various posts, including Colonel General Staff in the 2nd mechanized division, Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
. He was posted to the Nigerian Army Legal Services Department, 1984-85, and was a member of the Special Military Tribunal, Ibadan Zone (1984-1985).
While posted in Ibadan, he read for his Law Degree at the University of Ibadan
University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
, completed his studies at the Nigerian Law School
Nigerian Law School
The Nigerian Law School was set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1962 to provide a Nigerian legal education to foreign-trained lawyers, and to provide practical training for aspiring Legal Practitioners in Nigeria....
and was called to the Bar in 1985.
Military Governor
Yohanna Madaki was appointed Governor of Gongola State in 1985, and was posted from Gongola State to Benue State as the Military Governor from August to September 1986.In his brief administration of Benue State he was not able to achieve much.
While governor of Gongola State in 1985, in a controversial action he sacked the Emir of Muri
Muri (Nigeria)
Muri is a town and traditional emirate in the northwestern Taraba State of eastern Nigeria, approximately between 9 and 11 40 E. and 7 10 and 9 40 N. The Benue River is nearby, and the portion on the southern bank of the river is watered by streams flowing from the Cameroon region to the Benue. ...
in the present day Taraba State
Taraba State
Taraba State is a state of Nigeria, named after the Taraba River which traverses the southern part of the state. Taraba's capital is Jalingo.-History:...
, saying "I have dealt a lethal blow to feudalism." His grounds were the confiscation of land by the Emir from the local people. The land was returned to the original owners.
Later career
Yohanna Madaki retired in 1986 and entered legal practice in KadunaKaduna
Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State in north-central Nigeria. The city, located on the Kaduna River, is a trade center and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. The population of Kaduna is at 760,084 as of the 2006 Nigerian census...
. He was engaged in many legal battles, often providing service free of charge to needy people, particularly those in the military.
He engaged in a prolonged legal battle to save former military governor of Rivers State
Rivers State
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...
, Major General Zamani Lekwot
Zamani Lekwot
Major General Zamani Lekwot was the Military Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria from July 1975 until July 1978 during the military administrations of Generals Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo.Lekwot is a Kataf, born in Kaduna State in 1944....
from execution.
In later years he became the national legal adviser of the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP).
In this role, in May 2003 he described a trip to various countries of the campaign organisation of All Nigeria People's Party
All Nigeria People's Party
The All Nigeria Peoples Party is a conservative political party in Nigeria. At the last legislative elections , the party won 27.0% of the popular vote and 92 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives and 27 out of 109 seats in the Senate...
(ANPP) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections...
, as an act of treason.
Colonel Yohanna Ateyan Madaki (rtd) died on 21 May 2006 in a London hospital after a brief illness.