The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Aliwura, said that the number of Justices of the Supreme Court is currently at 10, which is the lowest number in history.
Chief Justice Alioura made the following remarks at a ceremony marking the retirement of Chief Justice Musa Dattijo, who has reached the retirement age of 70.
With the retirement of Justice Adam Augie a few weeks ago and the retirement of Justice Musa Dattijo, the Supreme Court seat now has just 10 justices, the lowest number in the Supreme Court’s modern history.
However, I can confidently assure the litigant public that efforts are in top gear to bring in a substantial number of judges to enhance our standing and complement the tremendous effort we have expended in the work of the Court.”
Justice Minister Datijo praised the legal profession as a model of transcendent excellence.
He added, “I am both deeply moved and extremely exhilarated to be personally present at this exceptional award ceremony.
This is not because I have never witnessed or presided over a coronation before, but because of the fact that we are honoring a quintessential symbol of the judiciary, a man of dazzling qualities and seductive stature, who in one breath could be classified as an exemplar of excellence that transcends the legal profession.
Judge Musa Dattijo Muhammad, gathered here today, is the epitome of jurisprudential craftsmanship, an unyielding lion with an irrepressible voice in the temple of justice.
We are here to pay tribute to an accomplished jurisprudential iconoclast who has devoted the best of his intellect to the advancement of the legal profession by rendering incontestable and unwavering judgments for several years at various levels of courts in Nigeria.
‘Your Honor is indelibly etched in the history of the Nigerian judiciary as a courageous and eminent Supreme Court Justice who, by all standards, retained an unwavering influence in the discharge of his judicial duties.
As Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, my Lord Justice Dattijo skillfully assisted and supported me in virtually every area of administration. He is a model of diligence, hard work, discipline, and high moral character.
