Nigerian-born Canadian lawyer appointed minister of justice in Canada

Thu, Aug 27, 2020
By editor
3 MIN READ

Politics

By Anayo Ezugwu

KAYCEE (Kelechi) Madu, a Nigerian-born Canadian lawyer, has been appointed minister of justice and solicitor general of the Province of Alberta in Canada. His appointment was announced on Tuesday, August 25, by Jason Kenney, the premier of Alberta.

Madu said on his LinkedIn page that he will ensure that everyone in Alberta has access to equal justice. “As I reflect upon my new appointment as the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, the Provincial Secretary and Keeper of the Great Seal of our great Province of Alberta, the importance of carrying this ministry forward amid these difficult social and economic times weighs heavily on my mind.

“My fundamental belief that every soul deserves equal access to justice has always informed my legal work, and that will never change. As a foreign-trained lawyer, I cherish the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which says, “Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination.” I want to ensure that these words flourish in the lives of Albertans, and inspire confidence, not uncertainty.

Madu and his family

“I look forward to working on many critical democratic reforms, including recall legislation and important citizenship initiative referendums, and taking the lead role on the implementation of our government’s fight for a fair deal within the confederation. I want to thank Premier Jason Kenney for putting his confidence in me to lead this important ministry. I want to thank my family – my wife, Emem, and my three beautiful children – for their constant support, love, and prayers,” he said.

Madu, who obtained his Law degree from the University of Lagos, in 2001, is the first Black Canadian to occupy either provincial or federal justice positions of the justice minister, attorney general or solicitor general.

In 2009, he was awarded the Premier’s Award of Excellence in the bronze medal category, an award presented to members of Saskatchewan’s public service (individuals, groups, or teams) who have made outstanding on-the-job contributions to the government and citizens of the province.

On March 4, 2020, Madu was designated as a Queen’s Counsel by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta through an Order-in-Council. Queen’s Counsel is the highest honour awarded to lawyers who have made significant contributions to the advancement of law and society. On 30 April 2019, he was appointed to the Executive Council of Alberta as the Minister of Municipal Affairs and held that role until the present appointment on August 25.

Madu, born and raised in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria, is also a Member of Legislative Assembly for Edmonton-South West.

– Aug. 27, 2020 @ 10:55 GMT |

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