The Supreme Court of Nigeria’s bench is now reduced to 10 judges as Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad retires from service. The official announcement was made by Dr. Festus Akande, the Director of Information at the Supreme Court.
A valedictory court session is scheduled to commemorate Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad’s retirement. This special event will take place on Friday, October 27th, at 10:00 AM in the main courtroom of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will preside over the session and pay tribute to Justice Musa Dattijo, alongside other prominent figures in the nation’s justice sector.
Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, who hails from Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, was born on October 27, 1953, in Minna, the capital of Niger. His educational journey began at Native Primary School, Minna, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate between 1960 and 1966.
He continued his education at Sheikh Sabbah College (now Sardauna Memorial Secondary School) in Kaduna from 1967 to 1971. This led to his admission to Abdullahi Bayero College, Kano, where he completed a Pre-Degree program. Subsequently, he pursued a degree in Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1977. Justice Dattijo was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 2, 1977.
Not content with just a first-degree in Law, he sought further education at Warwick University in 1982, earning an LLM Degree in 1983. His dedication to the legal profession and commitment to the pursuit of knowledge were evident throughout his career.
Justice Dattijo Muhammad took the oath of office as a Justice of the Supreme Court on July 10, 2012. His journey to the Court of Appeal was a testament to his hard work, passion for the law, dedication to duty, and a steadfast commitment to applying the law to its fullest extent in all cases that came before him. He earned his elevation to the Court of Appeal on November 21, 1998, after serving meritoriously in various divisions of the Niger State Judiciary.
This retirement marks the end of a remarkable judicial career and opens a new chapter for the Supreme Court with its reduced bench of 10 judges.