The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad on Tuesday, swore in Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf as the substantive Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
The ceremony, which took place at the Supreme Court in Abuja, had in attendance the Governor of Kogi state, Mr Yahaya Bello, the FCT Minister Mohammed Bello, members of the National Assembly, judicial officers from various jurisdictions, and traditional rulers.
Mr Baba-Yusuf’s appointment was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari following his recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
What the CJN said
While administering the oath of office to Mr Baba-Yusuf the CJN admonished him to be just and fair to litigants.
“You should therefore take charge and ensure that you are just and fair to your brother judges, the management, staff and most importantly to the litigants,” the Chief Justice said.
“There is no regime in any country that can operate without a judiciary. No matter how primitive a society is, it must have its own mechanism for resolution of its disputes, otherwise, that society will drift into anarchy, self-destruction and extinction,” he added.
What you should know
Mr Baba-Yusuf was sworn in following the resignation of his predecessor, Salisu Garba who resigned to take up an appointment as the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI).
On August 16, 2021, he was sworn in as the acting chief judge of the FCT High Court.
Mr Baba-Yusuf was born in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State on June 1, 1962. He was called to bar in 1984. The 59-year-old began his legal career by joining the Kogi State judiciary in 1985 as Magistrate Grade II and rose through the ranks.
He became the Chief Registrar of the Kogi State High Court in 1993 and in 1998 he was appointed a High Court judge.
