Sir Adetokunbo Ademola — served as Chief Justice from 1958 to 1972. During his time on the bench (1960–1972) the country’s heads of state / presidents included Queen Elizabeth II (as monarch until 1963, represented by the Governor-General), Governor-General/President Nnamdi Azikiwe (when Nigeria became a republic in 1963), Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (1966), and General Yakubu Gowon (1966–1975).
Taslim Olawale Elias — served as Chief Justice from 1972 to 1975. Elias’s tenure fell primarily under the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon.
Sir Darnley Arthur Alexander — served as Chief Justice from 1975 to 1979. His period as CJ overlapped first with General Murtala Muhammed (July 1975 – February 1976) and then with General Olusegun Obasanjo (February 1976 – 1979, as Head of State).
Atanda Fatai-Williams — served as Chief Justice from 1979 to 1983. Williams served during the Second Republic under President Shehu Shagari (1979–1983).
George Sodeinde Sowemimo — served as Chief Justice from 1983 to 1985. Sowemimo’s term covered the tail end of the Second Republic (President Shehu Shagari) and the beginning of the military regime of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (from the December 1983 coup).
Ayo Gabriel Irikefe — served as Chief Justice from 1985 to 1987. Irikefe’s tenure overlapped the end of Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s rule (until August 1985) and the start of General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime (from August 1985).
Mohammed Bello — served as Chief Justice from 1987 to 1995. During Bello’s time as CJ Nigeria was led by General Ibrahim Babangida (until 1993), the interim government of Chief Ernest Shonekan (August–November 1993), and then General Sani Abacha (from November 1993).
Muhammadu Lawal Uwais — served as Chief Justice from 1995 to 12 June 2006. Uwais’s tenure spanned the later years of General Sani Abacha (until 1998), General Abdulsalami Abubakar (1998–1999), and the start of the Fourth Republic under President Olusegun Obasanjo (1999–2007).
Salihu Modibbo Alfa Belgore — served as Chief Justice from 12 June 2006 to 17 January 2007. Belgore served under President Olusegun Obasanjo (whose term ended 29 May 2007).
Idris Legbo Kutigi — served as Chief Justice from 30 January 2007 to 30 December 2009. Kutigi’s tenure overlapped the start of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration (from 29 May 2007) and into Yar’Adua’s presidency.
Aloysius Iyorgyer Katsina-Alu — served as Chief Justice from 30 December 2009 to 28 August 2011. Katsina-Alu served during President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s presidency (until Yar’Adua’s death in May 2010) and then during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration (from 2010).
Dahiru Musdapher — served as Chief Justice from 2011 to 2012. Musdapher served under President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Aloma Mariam Mukhtar — served as Chief Justice from 2012 to 2014. Mukhtar served during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
Mahmud Mohammed — served as Chief Justice from November 2014 to 10 November 2016. Mohammed’s tenure spanned the end of President Goodluck Jonathan’s term (until 29 May 2015) and the start of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration (from 29 May 2015).
Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen — served as Chief Justice (sworn in) in 2017 and served until 2019. Onnoghen served under President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad — served as Chief Justice from 2019 to 2022. Tanko Muhammad served during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Olukayode Ariwoola — served as Chief Justice from 2022 to 2024. Ariwoola served under President Muhammadu Buhari (until 29 May 2023) and then under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (from 29 May 2023) for the portion of his term that overlapped Tinubu’s presidency.
Kudirat Kekere-Ekun — appointed Chief Justice on 22 August 2024 and currently serves in that role; her tenure is under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (President from 29 May 2023 to present).
FOLLOW US ON:
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
PINTEREST
TIKTOK
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN
TUMBLR
INSTAGRAM
