Ten judges make comprise the Supreme Court’s bench as of Friday, according to Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Ten justices make up the smallest number of justices on the Supreme Court in history, in his opinion.
When Justice Musa Dattijo reached the obligatory retirement age of seventy years, the Chief Justice of the Philippines delivered a speech during his final court session.
Nonetheless, the CJN gave everyone the reassurance that concerted efforts are underway to promote a sizable number of Justices to the Court’s bench.
The speaker stated, “We now have just 10 Justices on the Supreme Court Bench, which is the lowest we have ever had in the contemporary history of the court. Justices Musa Dattijo left us today following Justice Adamu Augie’s retirement a few weeks ago.
To counterbalance the enormous effort we have been putting into the Court’s operations, I can firmly promise the litigant public that attempts to add a sizable number of Justices are underway.
Dattijo was praised by the CJN, who called him an example of brilliance that goes beyond the legal field.
“To be here personally for this unique valedictory session has filled me with immense emotion and excitement,” he remarked.
This isn’t because this is my first time witnessing or leading valedictory sessions; rather, it’s because we are honoring a classic judicial icon, one of dazzling qualities and alluring stature who could easily be categorized as an exemplary figure that goes beyond the legal profession.
An outstanding lion with an unquenchable voice in the temple of justice, My Lord Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, in whose honor we have gathered here today, is the pinnacle of jurisprudential grace.
Through his many years of spotless and unquestionable rulings at all levels of Nigerian courts, an accomplished jurisprudential iconoclast, we are here to honor him and pay tribute to his intellectual prowess.
By all measures, His Lordship has left a lasting impression on the annals of Nigerian judicial history as the valiant and distinguished Justice on the Supreme Court bench who unwaveringly maintained authority in the performance of his official duties.
As my Lord, Justice Dattijo, aided and supported me practically in every administrative area as second-in-command in the Supreme Court hierarchy. His work ethic, diligence, self-control, and moral integrity are admirable traits.
In order to help a deputy navigate the frequently turbulent waters of court administration, he voluntarily supplied all the assistance and motivation that a leader would always hope to receive.
It is now appropriate for him to stop serving as a judicial officer, as this event marks his 70th birthday anniversary. The next moment will see the opening of a new chapter in my Lord’s life, one that His Lordship and a whole new group of people—whom fate had already brought together—will start writing on once this Court session concludes.
He really is a treasure of unimaginable value and a symbol deserving of praise and admiration. It is well known that His Lordship is a judge who is not hesitant to call a spade a spade, regardless of whose ox gets gored. He is also a man of integrity who can be direct, even to the point of cruelty.
Through his demeanor and behavior, His Lordship has been able to create a monument of optimism and hope in the eyes of his throngs of admirers, as well as future generations who will have the honor of accessing and witnessing his monumental contributions to the field of justice, which are already well-researched and prominently displayed on the shelves of numerous libraries worldwide.
