CELEBRATING A JUDICIAL ICON: JUSTICE ALOYSIUS IYORGYER KATSINA-ALU, FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA.

BY MOSES ADAGUUSU

Honorable Justice Aloysius Iyorgyer Katsina– Alu was born on 28thAugust, 1941 at Ukan, in Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State. He had his secondary education at St. Michael’s Secondary School Aliade in 1961 and thereafter to the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna. He proceeded to the Mons Military Training College, Aldershot, England where he trained from 1962 to 1963. His career that started in the Military was however short-lived. On his return from Military training he enrolled at the Faculty of Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. In 1964, he proceeded to the Inns of Court, School of Law; Gibson & Weldon College of Law, School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London. He was called to the English Bar in October, 1967. He subsequently attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in June, 1968.

Upon his call to the Nigerian Bar, he began his professional career in Lagos as a private Legal Practitioner. In 1978, he was appointed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Benue State. His judicial career started in 1979 when he was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Benue State. He was elevated to the Court of Appeal in June, 1985. In 1998, he became a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a period which marked the enthronement of constitutionalism and rule of law in the country. His career on the bench spanned 32 years in all the Superior Courts of record out of which 13 years were spent as a Justice of the Supreme Court. He was appointed the 10th indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria on 30thDecember, 2009. KATSINA-AL: A DESTINY FULFILLE, HIS SUPREME COURT YEARS is a book containing excerpts of the decisions of Hon. Justice Katsina- Alu during his tenure as a Justice of the Supreme Court. During his 13 year stint as a Justice of the apex Court and later Chief Justice, he sat on a total of 406 cases. Out of that number, he delivered 56 leading, 346 concurring and 4 dissenting judgments. Therefore, the decision to put together in an immemorial form, the insightful thoughts and decisions of this judicial icon deserves commendation.
The book edited by Mr. MOSES ADAGUUSU, an Abuja based Legal Practitioner could not have been presented at a better time than now that his Lordship has honorably bowed out, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70. It was Katsina-Alu who in the celebrated case of Amaechi Vs INEC decided on the power of the Supreme Court to give remedy where not specifically claimed. In that case, Justice Katsina-Alu in his Leading Judgment held that the Supreme Court has wide jurisdiction to make consequential orders and to grant reliefs which the circumstances and justice of the case dictate.
Most of the judgments delivered by Katsina-Alu have been reported in Law Reports. However, there is no single reference source for all his judgments. That is the gap the book is aimed at filling. Justice Katsina-Alu aside from his notable contributions from the Bench has participated in several important international conferences. His contribution to nation building has been acknowledged and celebrated beyond the legal circles. He was conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2004. In appreciation of his invaluable contribution to nation building, he was awarded the prestigious honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) in 2010. It was not therefore surprising when the Benue State University, Makurdi honoured him with the Doctor of Law (Honoris Causa) in June, 2010. The Book will be publicly launched tomorrow at the Musa Yar; adua Centre, Abuja under the Chairmanship of Dr. Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State, at 10.00am. The Distinguished Guest of Honour is expected to be President Goodluck Jonathan. The public is invited to attend this great occasion to celebrate KATSINA-ALU, a judicial icon of great repute. No doubt, his destiny which was certainly not in the Military has indeed been fulfilled in the legal Profession.

Source: FRCN daily Commentary