Galadima: A Jurist per excellence

Justice Suleiman Galadima will, on Monday October 10, 2016, bow out from the bench at the Supreme Court, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70 years. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978. Thereafter, he proceeded to the University of Jos from 1985–1987, where he obtained his LLM degree. He was appointed […]

Justice Suleiman Galadima will, on Monday October 10, 2016, bow out from the bench at the Supreme Court, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978. Thereafter, he proceeded to the University of Jos from 1985–1987, where he obtained his LLM degree.
He was appointed higher registrar, High Court of Justice, Jos, from May 1976 to August 1977, he became assistant legal aid leader, NYSC Anambra State, state counsel, ministry of justice, Law Review Commission secretary, Anambra State, between August 1977 and June 1978.
He later became deputy company secretary and legal adviser, Ajaokuta Steel Company, Kogi State.
He was appointed acting chief magistrate, state vice chairman of Magistrate Association of Nigeria.
He was appointed attorney-general from March 1990 to April 1991.
His career as a judge gave him immense pleasure and satisfaction, as this could be seen from the way he conducted court proceedings.
His judgments are well researched, thorough with evidence evaluated painstakingly and relevant laws applied appropriately.
With the creation of Nasarawa State on October 1, 1996, high court was established and Galadima was the first chief judge of that state. He demonstrated good leadership quality and ensured that the judiciary was nurtured to a model of excellence.  As chief judge, he ensured that none of the judges of the court as well as the other courts’ staff had cause to complain.
On December 9, 1998, he was sworn-in as justice of the Court of Appeal where he served creditably as presiding justice of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, between September 2006 and  September 2010.
It was in recognition of his erudition and excellence that he was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2010. During his stay on the Supreme Court bench, he wrote many illuminating judgments and participated in several cases of great public interest.  Anyone who has read or cares to read the relevant law reports cannot but be impressed by the number and quality of his judgments.
He is an eminent jurist, who ensured that all his judgements left no stone unturned.
Throughout his stay on the Supreme Court bench, he worked in unity with others justices of the apex court to achieve excellence.  He demonstrated a high sense of discipline, courage and unimpeachable character. As a devoted Muslim, he demonstrated the fear of Allah.
He was a member of the panel that heard the appeal filed by Dr. Bukola Saraki challenging the jurisdiction and competence of the charges by the Code of Conduct Tribunal over alleged false asset declaration.
In Shina Oketaolegun Vs. State, SC. 334A/2012, Galadima in the leading judgment held that the Court of Appeal correctly reviewed the evidence led by both the prosecution and the defence in which he agreed that the evidence of one credible witness can justify conviction.
Galadima was born on October 10, 1946, at Nasarawa State. He attended the Katsina Ala Secondary School from 1960 –1964, where he obtained his West African School Certificate. Thereafter, he gained admission into the Government College, Keffi, in 1965 and completed in 1967. He later obtained a Higher School Certificate (HSC) before he gained admission into the famous Ahmade Bello University, (ABU) Zaria in 1967, where he successfully completed a diploma programme in law in 1969. In 1974, he was back to ABU for a degree programme in law which he completed in 1977.
He has attended several seminars within and outside Nigeria, visiting countries like India, UK, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, among others.
He received several meritorious and national awards, such as the Achievers Awards 2003, Development Achievers Gold Award 2007, Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) and Officer of the Order of Federal Republic (OFR) in 2011.
He is married and blessed with children. His hobbies include reading, photography, swimming, hunting, farming, gardening, current affairs, cultural activities, reading of Islamic scriptures and documentary.