According to a news report from the Nigerian Tribune, a notable human rights lawyer based in Ilorin, Barrister Mashood Agboola Yussuf, has been appointed as a notary public of Nigeria.

This appointment was confirmed by the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and is in accordance with the Notaries Public Act. The swearing-in ceremony, presided over by the Kwara State Chief Judge, Justice Abiodun Adebara, took place on Monday, 19 August 2024, at the State High Court premises in Ilorin.

The Act states that legal practitioners admitted to the Nigerian Bar and who have practiced for a minimum of seven years and have successfully passed a screening process based on their professional ability and integrity are eligible for appointment as Notaries Public. Every applicant must, however, be recommended by the High Court of the state, where he/she practices.

Notaries public are by law considered as officers of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who have been authorized to notarize documents and perform certain legal services, primarily related to the authentication and certification of documents, affidavits, and other legal instruments. In many parts of the world, a document can only be accepted if it has been authenticated and its genuineness and value verified and certified by a Notary Public.

Reacting to his appointment and swearing-in, Barrister Yussuf said “I am deeply honored to be appointed as a Notary Public of Nigeria, a role that carries significant responsibility and trust. This appointment is not just a recognition of my professional journey but also an affirmation of the principles of justice, integrity, and service that I hold dear.

“I am committed to upholding the duties of this office with the utmost dedication and ensuring that my work continues to contribute to the legal profession and the broader society.”

Barrister Yussuf attended the University of Ilorin where he studied Common and Islamic Law. He had his compulsory one-year national youth service in Gombe State before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus.

He began his legal career at F F Abdulrazaq & Co., Ilorin before he established his law firm, Baharain Chambers in 2017 with branches in Lagos and Abuja.

Yussuf, an expert in election petition, is a member of the African Bar Association, and in recognition of his expertise and dedication to the legal profession, he was in 2023, appointed by the governing body of the association to serve as a member of its Electoral Committee, tasked with observing electoral processes across African countries.