Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former Supreme Court Justice, Umaru Atu Kalgo, who died on Monday night, August 24, 2026, at the age of 89. The retired jurist passed away after a prolonged illness and was buried in Sokoto on Tuesday afternoon in accordance with Islamic rites. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yahaya Sarki, Governor Idris described the death as a monumental loss to Kebbi State, the legal profession, and the entire nation.
Governor Idris extended his heartfelt condolences to the deceased's family, the people of Kalgo Local Government Area, and members of the legal profession. He described Justice Kalgo as a distinguished son of Kebbi whose life was defined by exceptional service, unwavering integrity, dedication, and profound knowledge of the law. The governor noted that Kalgo made invaluable contributions to the administration of justice in Nigeria, serving at the High Court, Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court before retiring in 2007.
Beyond his judicial service, Governor Idris highlighted the late jurist's significant role in law reform. Kalgo served on the committee responsible for preparing the 1990 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and later as Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, where he contributed immensely to the development of the nation's legal system. He was also a member of the Constitution Review Committee (1987–1988) and the Constituent Assembly (1988–1989).
Justice Kalgo's career was a testament to decades of meritorious service. Born on May 12, 1937, in Kalgo, Kebbi State, he began his career as an Administrative Officer in Northern Nigeria before transitioning to State Counsel between 1965 and 1972. He served as Deputy Solicitor-General of the North-Western State and was appointed a High Court Judge for Kano and North-Western State in 1974. He became Chief Judge of Sokoto State on January 1, 1981, a position he held until his elevation to the Court of Appeal in February 1988.
His crowning achievement came on November 25, 1998, when he was elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, where he served as a Justice of the Supreme Court (JSC) until his statutory retirement in May 2007. During his tenure, he participated in several landmark cases and authored lead and concurring judgments covering areas including land ownership, commercial disputes, and public law. He was also a member of the Supreme Court panel that considered important constitutional questions relating to presidential election requirements and the legal status of the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice Kalgo was a recipient of national honours, including the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), as well as the Kebbi State Merit Award. Governor Idris prayed that Almighty Allah would grant the late jurist Al-Jannatul Firdaus and preserve the good legacy he left behind. "Justice Kalgo's legacy of professionalism, intellectual excellence, fairness and service will continue to inspire generations of lawyers, judges and public servants," the governor said.
The governor noted that the late jurist made significant contributions to the development and administration of justice in Nigeria throughout his distinguished career. He described the death as a painful loss to Kebbi State and Nigeria, adding, "We take solace in the fact that he lived a long and distinguished life devoted to the service of humanity and the nation". The passing of Justice Umaru Atu Kalgo marks the end of an era for a legal icon who dedicated nearly five decades of his life to the service of the law, justice, and the Nigerian judiciary.
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