In a rare exhibition of camaraderie at the apex court, a respected justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Helen Ogunwumiju (CFR), remembers departed Justice Umaru Atu Kalgo as an erudite, hardworking and compassionate jurist whose courtroom discipline helped shape a generation of lawyers

TRIBUTE TO HON. JUSTIICE UMARU ATU KALGO JSC (RTD) Inna illahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun.

My Lord Justice Umaru Atu Kalgo (Rtd) JSC, CON is gone!!

I can personally testify that my Lord Umaru Atu Kalgo JSC was one of the most consistently hardworking, erudite trial judges l’ve ever known.

I was a Senior Legal Aid Counsel in Sokoto State between 1983-1986. I appeared before His Lordship as Counsel in several trials in Sokoto Judicial Division and other jurisdictions during Criminal Assizes. His Lordship was Chief Judge of Sokoto State at the time.

His Lordship always conducted trials expeditiously until sometimes 5 pm in the afternoon and his erudite and exhaustive judgments were delivered the next day or at the latest a fortnight later. He was always patient and considerate.

A fine, dapper and scholarly gentleman with a dry British sense of humour, he was a master of the English language and had a way of wryly chastising incompetent or difficult counsel without appearing to do so.

He had one or two nicknames for me which I won’t disclose here as they have long been overtaken by events. I remember him with immense pride in his achievements as an iconic jurist who attained the height of the legal profession and contributed to the development of our jurisprudence.

I remember his Lordship with gratitude for his patience with a sometimes difficult counsel who did not understand the language of the witnesses in Court in Sokoto and other jurisdictions at the time.

I remember his Lordship for always having kind words to say to me and about me when he rose to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

I condole Sokoto State judiciary, the people of Sokoto State for the loss of this great legal giant and gentleman.

I condole his family for the loss of their great father in ripe old age and l pray for the repose of his soul in eternal peace. Amin. Amin

HELEN MORONKEJI OGUNWUMIJU CFR, JSC

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