Supreme Court of Nigeria
Encyclopedia
The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court
in Nigeria
, and is located in the Central District, Abuja
, in what is known as the Three Arms Zone
, so called due to the proximity of the offices of the Presidential Complex, the National Assembly
, and the Supreme Court.
became its first President. Appeals from the Federal Supreme Court to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
were abolished at that point, and the Supreme Court became the highest court in Nigeria. In 1976, the Court of Appeal (originally known as the Federal Court of Appeal) was established as a national court to entertain appeals from the High Courts of each of Nigeria's 36 states
, which are the trial courts of general jurisdiction. The Supreme Court in its current form was shaped by the Supreme Court Act of 1990 and by Chapter VII of the 1999 Constitution
of Nigeria.
Under the 1999 constitution, the Supreme Court has both original and appellate jurisdiction
s, has the sole authority and jurisdiction to entertain appeals from Court of Appeal, having appellate jurisdiction over all lower federal courts and highest state courts. Decisions rendered by the court are binding on all courts in Nigeria except the Supreme Court itself.
on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to confirmation by the Senate. Justices of the Supreme Court must be qualified to practice law in Nigeria, and must have been so qualified for a period not less than fifteen years. Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria have a mandatory retirement age of 65 years.
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, and is located in the Central District, Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
, in what is known as the Three Arms Zone
Three Arms Zone
The Three Arms Zone is an area of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, so named because it contains the offices of the country's Supreme Court and National Assembly, as well as several federal buildings....
, so called due to the proximity of the offices of the Presidential Complex, the National Assembly
Nigerian National Assembly
The National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a bicameral legislature established under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution. It consists of a Senate and a 360-member House of Representatives...
, and the Supreme Court.
Overview
In 1963, the Federal Republic of Nigeria was proclaimed and Nnamdi AzikiweNnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe and popularly known as "Zik", was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism who became the first President of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960; holding the...
became its first President. Appeals from the Federal Supreme Court to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
were abolished at that point, and the Supreme Court became the highest court in Nigeria. In 1976, the Court of Appeal (originally known as the Federal Court of Appeal) was established as a national court to entertain appeals from the High Courts of each of Nigeria's 36 states
States of Nigeria
Nigeria is currently divided into 36 states and Abuja, the federal capital territory. The states are further divided into 774 Local Government Areas....
, which are the trial courts of general jurisdiction. The Supreme Court in its current form was shaped by the Supreme Court Act of 1990 and by Chapter VII of the 1999 Constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
of Nigeria.
Under the 1999 constitution, the Supreme Court has both original and appellate jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
s, has the sole authority and jurisdiction to entertain appeals from Court of Appeal, having appellate jurisdiction over all lower federal courts and highest state courts. Decisions rendered by the court are binding on all courts in Nigeria except the Supreme Court itself.
Structure and organization
The Supreme Court is composed of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and not more than twenty-one justices, appointed by the PresidentPresident of Nigeria
The President of Nigeria is the Head of State and head of the national executive. Officially styled President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan.-History:On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained...
on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to confirmation by the Senate. Justices of the Supreme Court must be qualified to practice law in Nigeria, and must have been so qualified for a period not less than fifteen years. Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria have a mandatory retirement age of 65 years.
| Office | Name | Term | |
| Chief Justice | Dahiru Musdapher Dahiru Musdapher Dahiru Musdapher is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, appointed in 2011. He previously served as Chief Judge of the Kano State Judiciary from 1979 to 1985, and as a member of the Court of Appeal from 1985 until 2003... |
2003–incumbent | 2007–incumbent |
| Associate Justice Associate Justice Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth... |
Sylvester Umaru Onu Sylvester Umaru Onu Sylvester Umaru Onu is a Nigerian judge. He has been an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court since June 1993.Onu is from Egume, in what is now Kogi State. He attended Government College, Keffi, Ahmadu Bello University, Gibson and Weldon College of Law, and the School of Oriental and African... |
1993–incumbent | |
| Associate Justice Associate Justice Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth... |
A. I. Katsina-Alu A. I. Katsina-Alu Aloysius Iyorgyer Katsina-Alu is a justice on the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He is from Ushongo in what is now Benue State. Katsina-Alu has been a member of the court since 1998.... |
1998–incumbent | |
| Associate Justice Associate Justice Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth... |
F. F. Tabai | 1999–incumbent | |
| Associate Justice Associate Justice Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth... |
Niki Tobi Niki Tobi Niki Tobi, CON is an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Tobi was born in Esanma, Bomadi LGA in what is now Delta State. Prior to his career in the bench, he was the dean of Faculty of Law and deputy vice-chancellor , University of Maiduguri. He was appointed to the Supreme Court in... |
2002–incumbent | |
| Associate Justice Associate Justice Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth... |
G. A. Oguntade | 2004–incumbent | |
| Associate Justice Associate Justice Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth... |
Sunday A. Akintan | 2004–incumbent | |
| Associate Justice Associate Justice Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth... |
A. M. Mukhtar | 2005–incumbent | |
| Associate Justice Associate Justice Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth... |
Mahmud Mohammed | 2005–incumbent | |
| Associate Justice Associate Justice Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth... |
Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen | 2005–incumbent | |
| Associate Justice Associate Justice Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth... |
Ikechi Francis Ogbuagu | 2005–incumbent | |
| Associate Justice Associate Justice Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth... |
Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad | 2007–incumbent | |
| Associate Justice Associate Justice Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth... |
Pius Olayiwola Aderemi | 2007–incumbent | |
| Associate Justice Associate Justice Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth... |
Christopher Michael Chukwuma-Eneh | 2007–incumbent | |