History as Emir Turbans Yusuf Ali (SAN) First Kuliya Ngeri of Ilorin

Today, Friday April 11, 2025, Ilọrin Emirate under the Emir of Ilọrin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari is making another history. Muslim faithful and dignitaries from all walks of life across the country will converge on the Emir’s place to witness the historic turbaning of Prof Yusuf Ali (SAN) as […]

Today, Friday April 11, 2025, Ilọrin Emirate under the Emir of Ilọrin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari is making another history.

Muslim faithful and dignitaries from all walks of life across the country will converge on the Emir’s place to witness the historic turbaning of Prof Yusuf Ali (SAN) as the first Kuliya Ngeri of Ilọrin.

With the prestigious honour, Prof. Ali ceases to be an “ordinary member” of the Ilorin Emirate community.

Rather, he now has a secured place in the community’s heritage as the first holder of a unique title. He is also one of the less than 100 individuals who have been so honoured in the over two centuries existence of the nation’s southernmost Emirate.

For many, this title is a deserved recognition for the foremost legal luminary and symbolises his impactful contribution and role to the advancement of the community he has been living and practising for over four decades.

Though from Osun State, Prof Ali is now synonymous with Ilọrin according to many of the indigenes and has made far reaching impact through legal victories and his philanthropic activities by his foundation.

Residents say it is indeed doubtful if there is a more philanthropic lawyer who is resident in Ilorin than Prof. Ali who is synonymous with giving for the growth of Ilorin and its environs.

The city houses the headquarters of his flourishing legal practice, reputed as the largest in Ilorin and the entire Kwara State.

In a recent interview, the legal giant-cum philanthropist per excellence said his “world view and background have been responsible for the way I look at issues and the fact that I know I also owe a duty and a debt of gratitude which can only be repaid by taking part in all positive things that can change other people lives and uplift others”.

What is Kuliya title

Kuliya means “the pinnacle of the law” or “the peak of the law”. The title is similar to “Baamofin” (encyclopaedia of law) in Yorubaland.

As Kuliya Ngeri of Ilorin, Prof. Ali has become the official traditional chief legal adviser to the Emir and the Emirate.

In this role, he is expected to provide legal opinion and support to the Emir. However, the responsibility is not new. The remarkable senior lawyer has been offering such service to His Royal Highness over the years as he has handled many cases for him from the lowest pedestal of the nation’s judiciary to the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Who is Prof Yusuf Ali

Prof. Ali, who hails from Ifetedo in the Ife-North Local Government Area of Osun State, was born into a prominent Muslim family on September 7,1956.

He attended the famous Ibadan Boys High School, Ibadan, from where he bagged his West African School Certificate (WASC) with flying colours. He was, in fact, the Labour Prefect of the school.

In 1978, he was admitted into the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, from where he graduated with a Second Class Upper Division degree in Law in 1982. He subsequently attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos between 1982 and 1983 at the end of which he bagged a Second Class Upper and was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar.

He returned to his alma mater for his Master’s degree in Law and successfully completed the programme in 1991.

Prof. Ali joined the law firm of Adegboyega Awomolo & Co.,Ilorin, in 1983 but left to establish his own, Yusuf Olaolu Ali & Co., otherwise known as Ghalib Chambers, Ilorin, in June,1994.

He remains the founder and Principal Partner of the law firm,which has branches in Lagos and Abuja. The law firm has handled and won several landmark cases in all the courts of records in Nigeria.

Prof. Ali is easily one of the nation’s most visible and sought-after advocates. He was appointed a Notary Public by the Chief Justice of Nigeria in 1989. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) in 1997.

The senior lawyer, who has taught law at the University of Ilorin,Kwara State University, Malete and was also a Visiting Fellow at the King’s College, University of London, United Kingdom, was recently appointed Professor of Practice by the authorities of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti in recognition of his enormous commitment to the growth of the nation’s jurisprudence.

Prof. Ali, who has garnered more than 250 honours and awards from institutions of learning, professional bodies, religious organisations and communities within and outside Nigeria, was the Chairman of the Kwara State Law Reform Committee. He was also the pioneer Chairman, Council of Public Defenders, Kwara State. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin. He holds the same position on the Board of Summit University, Offa.

He was the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Osun State University, Osogbo. He equally served as the Chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of States-Owned Universities in Nigeria.

He has also been listed in the American Biographical Institute’s Who is Who, “Who is Who in Nigeria” as well as “Ilorin Emirate’s Frontliners”,among others. He was equally the recipient of the 2018 Peace and Humanitarian Award of California State University, Sacramento,United States of America and Kwara State Accomplished Professional Award at the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the creation of the State in 2017.

Last year, Prof. Ali, who holds the national honour of the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) conferred on him by the Federal Government of Nigeria, was celebrated as the Most Distinguished Alumnus of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He was the second recipient of the honour instituted by the first generation University for its outstanding products.

Prof. Ali was married to the late Hajiya Faoziyat Lola Ali and they are blessed with successful children who are doing very well in their various careers. He is also, to the glory of Allah, a happy grandfather.

Who said what:

According to the Emir of Ilọrin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, “This honor is in recognition of Prof. Ali’s significant contributions to the development of the Ilorin Emirate as well as his impressive background in law profession and philanthropy activities”.

He “urged sons and daughters of the Emirate, Kwarans, Nigerians, friends and associates of the erudite scholar to be part of the historic event, wished Prof. Yusuf sound health and Almighty Allah’s guidance in his endeavours”, according to a statement by his spokesperson, AbdulAzeez Arowona.

For his part, Imam Abubakar, the Chief Scribe of Ilọrin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), said Prof Ali is a quintessential lawyer who has left his indelible footprints in Ilọrin Emirate.

He said the “special” title which can also be translated as the most outstanding scholar and expounder of jurisprudence in a given community”, fits Prof Ali as an exceptional legal technocrat with deep affinity for Ilọrin’s progress.

“He is not just a resident of the Ilorin community but one of those who have posted significant contributions to its development using different platforms.

“He has contributed greatly to the preservation of the alluring image of Ilorin and his performance within and outside the court has brought great honour to the community.

“He has been a mentor to many indigenes of Ilorin who are lawyers and other professionals. Several of them passed through his tutelage and chambers while quite a number of them often refer to him on professional and social issues”, he noted.

Prof Ali is also a major contributor to the regular maintenance of the Ilorin Central Jumaat Mosque aside from being a member of its Board of Trustees (BoT). His philanthropic gestures extend to the building of several mosques and schools across and beyond Ilorin. He is also a frontliner in the sponsorship of Islamic enlightenment programmes on radio and television stations in the Emirate.

Through his foundation, he has also granted bursary awards to several indigenes of the Ilorin Emirate.