Supreme Court Justices Deplete to 10 as Justice Musa Dattijo Bows out Oct 27

The Justices on the bench of the Supreme Court have been reduced to 10 as another Justice of the Court, Musa Dattijo Muhammad bows out on Friday, October 27, 2023.

The retirement notice served on the Court’s management by Justice Dattijo will lapse on the date when a befitting special valedictory court session will be held in his honour to mark his retirement.

A statement on Sunday in Abuja by the Court’s Director of Press and Information, Dr. Akande Aweneri Festus indicated that the valedictory session will be held at the Main Courtroom of the Court in the morning.

According to the statement, the Special Court Session is to be presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who will customarily, pay tribute to Justice Musa Dattijo alongside other major stakeholders in the nation’s justice sector.

Justice Musa Dattijo who hails from Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, was born on Tuesday, 27th October, 1953 in Minna. He attended Native Primary School, Minna from 1960 to 1966 for his First School Leaving Certificate.

Between 1967 and 1971, he was at Sheikh Sabbah College (now Sardauna Memorial Secondary School), Kaduna, from where he proceeded to Abdullahi Bayero College, Kano for a Pre-Degree programme which aided his immediate admission into the Faculty of Law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he bagged a degree in Law in 1977.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar on 2nd July 1977. Not satisfied with only a first Degree in Law, Justice Dattijo sought admission at Warwick University in 1982 for an LLM Degree which he obtained in 1983.

Justice Dattijo earned a well-deserved elevation to the Court of Appeal on 21st November 1998 from the Niger State Judiciary and served meritoriously at different Divisions.

He took the oath of office as Justice of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, 10th July 2012. His ascension to the Court of Appeal was more of a reward for hard work, inherent passion for his chosen profession, dedication to duty, and above all, a resolute application of the law in its true letters and words to all cases that came to him.

“With the retirement of Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, the Supreme Court of Nigeria is now left with 10 Justices”, the statement said.

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