The Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Musa Dattijo, is set to retire. His retirement is coming only weeks after the exit of Justice Amina Augie on September 22, 2023.
Dr. Festus Akande, the spokesman for the Supreme Court, said in a statement that Justice Dattijo will retire on Friday, October 27, 2023.
His exit will further deplete the Supreme Court bench, which is already suffering from inadequate manpower. As opposed to the constitutionally provided 21 justices, the Supreme Court has only 11 justices. Justice Dattijo’s retirement will bring the number down to 10.
The apex court had earlier lost Justice Chima Nweze, who died on July 30, 2023, aged 64.
Akande said a valedictory court session would be held in honour of the outgoing Justice Dattijo on Friday.
“The valedictory court session to mark the retirement of Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad from the Supreme Court bench comes up on Friday, October 27, 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, 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, October 27, 1953, in Minna.
“He took the oath of office as Justice of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, July 10, 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 November 21, 1998, from the Niger State Judiciary and served meritoriously at different divisions,” the statement said.
