The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on Monday paid tribute to 
the retired Justice Niki Tobi, who passed on last Thursday.
In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Ahuraka Isah, the CJN urged Tobi’s family to take 
solace in the knowledge that the departed jurist served his country with commitment, dedication and honesty.
He added that Tobi would also be remembered for his “assiduous review” of 
the draft 1999 Constitution adopted by the then military administration of 
Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar ahead of the nation’s return to democratic rule.
“According to the information received from members of the deceased’s family, 
Justice Niki Tobi died by 5:30 pm on Thursday, 16 June, 2016 at the National 
Hospital in Abuja after a brief illness,” the statement read in part.
“The CJN, on behalf of himself, the Justices, staff of the Supreme Court and indeed 
the entire Judiciary of the country commiserates with the immediate family, relations 
as well as friends and associates of the respected late jurist, who joined the Supreme 
Court Bench in 2002 and retired on July 14, 2010.”
Tobi, who died aged 75 in Abuja, sat on the apex court bench from 2002 to 2010.
Born on July 14, 1940, the deceased would have been 76 next month.
Tobi was part of the majority of four Justices of the Supreme Court that validated the
 election of the late President Umar Yar’Adua, against the dissenting judgments of
 three other Justices that nullified the election in 2007.