On Friday, October 27, 2023, Justice Musa Dattijo of the Supreme Court will officially retire down from the bench.
In a statement made available to reporters in Abuja, the capital of the country, on Sunday, Festus Akande, the spokesperson for the supreme court, announced Dattijo’s retirement.
Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, will preside over a valedictory court session honouring Akande that is scheduled for this Friday at the apex court’s Main Courtroom.
The statement read, “The valedictory court session to mark the retirement of justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad from the Supreme Court Bench comes up on Friday, 27th October 2023, at the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“The Special Court Session is to be presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, 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, October 27, 1953, in Minna.
“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.
“He 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.”
Following Justice Amina Augie’s retirement on September 22, 2023, and Justice Chima Nweze’s passing on July 31, 2023, comes Dattijo’s retirement.
As a result of this development, the Supreme Court now has 10 justices, 11 short of the 21 stipulated by Section 230(2) of the 1999 Constitution.
Ada Peter
