Not Me, Name The Judges!” – Retired Supreme Court Justice Blasts Kwankwaso

A retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Musa Muhammad Dattijo, has issued a firm clarification in response to recent claims by former Kano State governor and national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, alleging that he visited the residences of Supreme Court justices to plead over Abba Yusuf’s election dispute.

According to Ireporter Online, Justice Dattijo made it clear that he was speaking strictly in his personal capacity, stressing that at no time during his tenure on the apex court did he meet with Kwankwaso or Governor Abba Yusuf, either in connection with the election matter or for any other reason.

The retired justice, who exited the Supreme Court on October 27, 2023, conveyed his position in a statement released to journalists on Thursday, emphasising that claims suggesting otherwise were inaccurate as far as he was concerned.

Justice Dattijo stated that if Kwankwaso stands by his assertions, he should provide concrete details, including the specific dates, locations, individuals present and the names of the justices allegedly involved in such meetings.

He warned that broad and unsubstantiated allegations risk unfairly tarnishing the reputations of judicial officers who may have had no involvement whatsoever, while also undermining public confidence in the judiciary.

The former justice cautioned political actors against dragging members of the judiciary into partisan disputes, noting that such narratives—whether proven or not—contribute to growing public cynicism toward the courts.

While acknowledging that public perception of Nigeria’s judiciary has deteriorated over time, Justice Dattijo recalled his valedictory address, in which he described prevailing attitudes toward the courts as “witheringly scornful and monstrously critical.”

He stressed, however, that concerns about judicial accountability must be addressed through evidence and due process rather than sweeping political generalisations.

According to him, his intervention was neither an attempt to defend nor indict any other judicial officer, but simply to clarify that he was not part of any such engagement as alleged.

Justice Dattijo further referenced the 1999 Constitution, noting that although freedom of expression is guaranteed, it carries responsibilities, particularly where statements may harm reputations or weaken public institutions.

He also grounded his response in faith, citing Qur’an Chapter 4 (An-Nisa), Verse 135, which urges believers to stand firmly for justice, even when it goes against personal interests or close associates.

The retired jurist warned that societies decline when wrongdoing is ignored, tolerated, legitimised and eventually celebrated, while those who oppose it are punished.

Quoting organisational psychologist Adam Grant, he added that integrity requires loyalty to principles rather than personalities, stressing that meaningful judicial reform must be rooted in honesty, restraint and collective responsibility.

The clarification follows recent remarks by Kwankwaso in a widely circulated video, in which he claimed that after the 2019 Kano governorship election was declared inconclusive, he personally took Abba Yusuf to the homes of Supreme Court justices to seek intervention.

Kwankwaso described the situation as an unprecedented injustice and said desperate steps were taken in an attempt to salvage Yusuf’s mandate.

The 2019 Kano governorship election was declared inconclusive after the margin between the leading candidates fell below the number of cancelled votes, with a supplementary poll later producing APC’s Abdullahi Ganduje as winner—a decision upheld by the Supreme Court in January 2020.

In 2023, Yusuf returned to office on the NNPP platform. Although his victory was initially overturned by the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court in January 2024 reinstated him, faulting the lower courts and restoring previously cancelled votes.