Brief History of Supreme Court of Nigeria

The coinage Supreme Court was first used in 1863 by the colonial administration through the enactment of the Supreme Court Ordinance No. II which established it as a colony with civil and criminal jurisdiction.

In 1963, following the proclamation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the constitution which came into operation on October 1, 1963, Section III of this constitution gave legal instrument that gave birth to Supreme Court following the abolition of section 120 which abrogated the appellate jurisdiction of the judicial committee of the Privy Council which was Nigeria’s apex Court.

The Independence Constitution of 1960 invested it with the authority of the Federal Supreme Court, but this Act gave it the position of the highest Court in the judicial hierarchy.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria was explicitly referred to as such in the 1979 Constitution’s Section 210 (1) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. When it comes to disputes involving both federal and state laws, the court serves as the supreme court.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria and up to twenty additional justices who have been nominated by the National Judicial Council and approved by the Senate make up the Supreme Court. After reaching the mandatory service age of 70, they must retire.

Past Chief Justices

1. Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, KBE, GCON 1958-1972
2. Justice Taslim Olawale, CFR, GCON 1972-1975
3. Justice Darnley Arthur Alexander, CBE, KCMG, CFR, GCON 1975-1979
4. Justice Fatai Atanda Williams, CON, GCON 1979-1983
5. Justice George Sodeinde Sowemimo, CON, GCON 1983-1985
6. Justice Ayo Gabriel Irikefe, OFR, CON, GCON 1985-1987
7. Justice Mohammed Bello, CON, GCON 1987-1995
8. Justice Muhammawu Lawal Uwais, CON, GCON 1995-2006
9. Justice S.M.A Belgore, CON, GCON 2006-2007
10. Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, CON, GCON 2007-2009
11. Justice Aloysius Iyorgyer Katsina- Alu, CON, GCON 1st January 2010-28th August 2011
12. Hon Justice Dahiru Musdapher 2010 – 2012

Past Justices of Supreme Court(1956 – 2013)

1. Justice Stafford Foster Sutton (Past CJF)
2. Justice Olumuyiwa Jibowu
3. Justice Nageon Delestang
4. Justice John Abbott
5. Justice John Verity
6. Justice Percival Cyril Hubbard
7. Justice Adetokunbo Ademola (Past CJN)
8. Justice Lionel Brett
9. Justice Lious Nwachukwu Mbanefo
10. Justice James Henley Coussey
11. Justice Robert Yorke Hedges
12. Justice George Frederick Dove-Edwin
13. Justice Thomas Algernon Brown
14. Justice Samuel Okai Qyashie-Idun
15. Justice Wilfred Hugh Hurley
16. Justice Alfred John Ainley
17. Justice Alexander William Bellamy
18. Justice William Algernon Holwell Duffus
19. Justice Edgar Ignatus Godfrey Unsworth
20. Justice John Idowu Conrad Taylor
21. Justice Vahe Robert Bairmian
22. Justice Charles Dadi Onyeama
23. Justice Eugene Olufemi Adeyinka Morgan
24. Justice Micheal Oguejiojo Adegbo
25. Justice George Baptist Ayodola Coker
26. Justice chukweike Idigbe
27. Justice Ian Lewis
28. Justice Charles Olusoji Madarikan
29. Justice Sir Udo Udoma
30. Justice Atanda Fatayi – Williams (Past CJN)
31. Justice Geoge Sodeinde Sowemimo (Past CJN)
32. Justice Talim Olawale Elias (Past CJN)
33. Justice Dan Ibekwe
34. Justice Ayo Gabriel Irikefe (Past CJN)
35. Justice Darnley Arthur Raymond Alexander (Past CJN)
36. Justice Muhammed Bello (Past CJN)
37. Justice Mamman Nasir
38. Justice Andrews Otutu Obaseki
39. Justice Kayode Eso
40. Justice Anthony Nnemezie Aniagolu
41. Justice Buba Ardo
42. Justice Augustine Nnamani
43. Justice Boonyamin Oladiran Kazeem
44. Justice Dahunsi Olugbemi Coker
45. Justice A.G. Karibi – Whyte
46. Justice Saidu Kawu
47. Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa
48. Justice Abdul Ganiyu Olatunji Agbaje
49. Justice Philip Nnaemeka – Agu
50. Justice Abubakar Bahir Wali
51. Justice Ebenezer Babasanya Craig
52. Justice Olajide Olatawura
53. Justice Ephraim Ibukun Akpata
54. Justice Uche Omo
55. Justice Bolarinwa Oyegoke Babalakin
56. Justice Paul kemdilim Nwokedi
57. Justice Micheal Ekundayo Ogundare
58. Justice Emmanuel Obioma Ogwuegbu
59. Justice Shehu Usman Muhammed
60. Justice Yekini Olayiwola Adio
61. Justice Okay Achike
62. Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola
63. Justice Ignatius Chukwudi Pats – Acholonu
64. Justice Anthony Ikechukwu Iguh
65. Justice Uthman Mohammed
66. Justice Dennis Onyejife Edozie
67. Justice Samson Odemwingie Acholonu
68. Justice U.A. Kalgo
69. Justice Akintola Olufemi Ejiwunmi
70. Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais (Past CJN)
71. Justice S. M. A Belgore (Past CJN)
72. Justice Sunday Akintola Akintan
73. Justice Sylvester Umar Onu
74. Justice P. O. Aderemi
75. Justice I. L. Kutigi (Past CJN)
76. Justice G.A. Oguntade
77. Justice J. O. Ogebe
78. Justice Niki Tobi
79. Justice I. F. Ogbuagu
80. Justice A. I. katsina – Alu (Past CJN)
81. Justice Dahiru Musdapher (Past CJN)
82. Justice F. F. Tabai
83. Justice Olufunlola O. Adekeye

Present Justices of The Supreme Court

• The Hon. Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, (CON)             CJN
• The Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, (CON)
• The Hon. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, (CON)
• The Hon. Justice Francis Fedode Tabai, (CON)
• The Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed, (CON)
• The Hon. Justice Christopher Mitchell Chukwuma-Eneh, (CON)
• The Hon. Justice Muhammed Saifullah Muntaka-Coomassie, (CON)
• The Hon. Justice John Afolabi Fabiyi, (CON)
• The Hon. Justice Olufunola Oyelola Adekeye, (CON)
• Hon. Justice Suleiman Galadima, (OFR)
• Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour
• Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili
• Hon. Justice Sylvester Ngwuta
• Mr. Sunday Olorundahunsi Esq.                 CHIEF REGISTRAR

What Is The Highest Court In Nigeria?

The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the Highest Court In Nigeria and holds the highest authority in the country’s judicial system. Established under the Nigerian Constitution, the Supreme Court serves as the final appellate court, which means its decisions are binding on all other courts in Nigeria. It is the court of last resort, and its rulings cannot be appealed further within the Nigerian judicial system.