Kaka Shehu Lawan: The Nigerian Lawyer Turned Politician

Kaka Shehu Lawan has navigated the law, government, and grassroots empowerment, and now serves as the Senator for Borno Central under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan is a Nigerian lawyer and politician currently representing Borno Central in the 10th National Assembly.

Before his election, he served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Borno State. 

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Born on July 1, 1975, in Maiduguri, Borno State, Kaka Shehu Lawan grew up in a region that has since shaped his public service ethos. He attended CBDA Primary School, Ngala (1981–1987), and later Abdul-Aziz Atta Memorial College, Okene (1988–1993). 

His quest for knowledge took him to the Borno State College of Legal and Islamic Studies, where he earned a Diploma in Civil Law (1996).

Lawan then studied Law at the University of Maiduguri (1998–2002) and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2004. He later lectured at the Muhammad Goni College of Legal and Islamic Studies in Maiduguri from 2005 to 2011.

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Between 2004 and 2012, Lawan built a thriving legal career. He practised at S.A. Ogwuche & Co. before founding his own firm, K.S. Lawan & Co. His blend of law practice and lecturing gave him a front-row seat to the legal and governance deficits in Northern Nigeria.

In 2012, he was appointed Special Adviser on Legal Matters to the Governor of Borno State and a year later became the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice (2013–2018). 

His record earned him an additional portfolio as Commissioner for Environment (2016–2018). It was during these years that Lawan cemented his reputation as a meticulous, results-driven administrator.

In 2024/25, he was elevated to the Inner Bar as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and has since been feted by Borno’s Bar as a Life-Bencher and keynote speaker at Law Week events. 

He sponsored 120 young lawyers to the NBA annual conference, funded scholarships and ran local educational drives through the Dalorima Memorial initiatives.

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Kaka Shehu Lawan’s journey into mainstream politics was a natural progression from his legal and governance work. 

After serving in the Borno State Cabinet, he contested for the Borno Central Senate seat in the 2023 general election on the APC ticket. This race marked his official entry into electoral politics.

In February 2023, he secured a landslide victory, polling 135,043 votes against his nearest rival’s 63,338. 

When his opponent challenged the result, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed his victory on November 2, 2023. Speaking after the verdict, Lawan said, “I promise not to let them down,” a reassuring pledge to the people of Borno Central who had stood by him. 

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Senator Lawan’s impact is evident both in legislation and in his constituency projects.

• In April 2025, he rolled out an empowerment scheme targeting 3,092 beneficiaries across eight LGAs in Borno Central. 

• He distributed tricycles, deep freezers, motorcycles, sewing machines and cash grants. Governor Babagana Zulum personally attended the launch, underscoring Lawan’s growing influence in the state’s development agenda.

• He also donated 20,000 exercise books and educational materials to schools in Borno and sent relief items to flood victims in Gamboru in late 2024. These efforts earned him praise from local communities. 

• In November 2023, he moved a motion urging the review of Nigeria’s laws, noting that the country had not updated its legal framework in nearly two decades and how obsolete statutes weaken governance. 

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• Lawan has also sponsored key bills, among them the National Agricultural Seeds Council (Amendment) Bill and a Bill for the establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship in Bama, Borno State. 

These proposals align with his vision of empowering youth through education and agribusiness.

In April 2025, he publicly criticised the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, for “politicising insecurity” in the North-East. 

This statement resonated across the country as a rare example of internal accountability within the APC. 

Senator Lawan is a devout Muslim and family man. Though he keeps his private life away from the public eye, his actions speak volumes about his values: faith, education and empowerment. 

He is often described as humble and approachable by his constituents, a rare trait in a region where politicians are usually viewed from afar.

As of 2025, Kaka Shehu Lawan’s official net worth has not been publicly declared. However, his income sources include legal practice, public service salaries and allowances as a federal lawmaker. 

He owns a law firm and likely has investments in real estate around Maiduguri and Abuja, though no credible public record lists his exact asset figures. 

Importantly, there are no known corruption allegations against him in mainstream media.

Kaka Shehu Lawan represents a new breed of Northern politicians. He is educated, articulate and focused on tangible constituency impact rather than political showmanship. 

His background in law gives him a technical edge in legislative matters, while his grassroots programmes bridge the gap between government and ordinary citizens.

In a state that has seen its share of hardship, Lawan’s legacy is taking shape as that of a builder of laws, institutions, and hope. He’s one of the few Nigerian senators whose constituents see him not just as a politician, but as a protector of their future.