…Says retired Supreme Court jurist’s integrity, scholarship, devotion to rule of law will inspire generations of lawyers, judges
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, has mourned the passing, earlier in the week, of retired Supreme Court Justice Umaru Atu Kalgo, describing him as a fearless and incorruptible jurist whose life and career strengthened public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.
Adoke, in a tribute to the late jurist, said Justice Kalgo belonged to a rare generation of judges who combined intellectual depth and an uncompromising commitment to the rule of law with humility, discipline, and courtesy.
He said the retired Supreme Court Justice left behind an enduring legacy of integrity, scholarship, and distinguished public service that would continue to inspire generations of lawyers and judges.
“It is with a heavy heart, but with gratitude to Almighty Allah for a life so well spent, that I join the Kalgo family, the Nigerian judiciary, the legal profession, and the entire nation in mourning the passing of a true legal icon and great jurist, the Honourable Justice Umaru Atu Kalgo, CON, JSC (Rtd.),” Adoke said.
Tracing the distinguished jurist’s career, the former Attorney-General noted that Kalgo was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1965 and began his public service career as an Administrative Officer before serving as State Counsel and Deputy Solicitor-General of the then North-Western State.
He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Kano State in 1974 and subsequently served on the Sokoto State High Court Bench.
Kalgo was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 1988 before reaching the pinnacle of his judicial career with his appointment to the Supreme Court of Nigeria in November 1998.
Adoke said the successive elevations reflected the late jurist’s reputation for hard work, integrity, and outstanding legal scholarship.
According to him, from the High Court to the Supreme Court, Kalgo remained unwavering in his commitment to justice and demonstrated the independence expected of a judicial officer throughout his career.
“From the High Court Bench to the hallowed chambers of the apex Court, His Lordship remained, in all things, an incorruptible and fearless administrator of justice,” he said.
Adoke described Kalgo as “that rare kind of Judge who combined an unyielding commitment to the rule of law with humility and an unfailing courtesy to counsel and litigants alike.”
Beyond his work on the Bench, Kalgo also played significant roles in the development of Nigeria’s constitutional and legal framework.
Adoke recalled that the late jurist contributed his experience to the Constitution Review Committee, the Constituent Assembly, and the Law Revision Committee for the Laws of the Federation, describing the assignments as important contributions whose impact would continue to be felt in the country.
The former Attorney-General said his own experience working at the intersection of law and governance had reinforced his appreciation of the importance of judges who demonstrate courage, independence, and integrity in the administration of justice.
He said jurists of Kalgo’s standing were critical to maintaining public confidence in the courts, particularly because the authority of the judiciary ultimately rested on the trust citizens placed in those charged with dispensing justice.
“As one who has had the privilege of serving the nation at the very intersection of law and governance, I can attest that jurists of Justice Kalgo’s calibre — hardworking, dedicated, and upright — are the pillars upon which public confidence in our justice system rests,” Adoke said.
He added that Kalgo’s judgements, marked by clarity and delivered without fear or favour, would remain valuable reference points for future generations of judges, lawyers, and students of Nigerian jurisprudence.
Adoke said, although the legal profession and the country had lost one of their distinguished figures, Kalgo could be remembered with pride for a life devoted to justice and national service.
“He has indeed run his race and kept the faith, and he departs this world leaving behind a legacy that the Nigerian Bar and Bench will forever hold in the highest esteem,” he said.
Adoke, on behalf of his family, extended condolences to the Kalgo family, the government, and people of Kebbi State, the Justices and staff of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and everyone who had worked with or known the late jurist.
He prayed Almighty Allah to forgive Kalgo’s shortcomings, reward his lifetime of service to humanity, and grant him Aljannah Firdaus.
“Adieu, my Lord,” the former Attorney-General said.
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