Late Hon Justice Daniel Dantshoho Abutu to be laid to Rest in His Country Home, Abocho in Biraidu District of Dekina LGA, Kogi State on 4th July,2025* *His Biography,Journey of Life and Family Background

 

1. I

ntroduction & Ancestry

Hon. Justice Daniel Dantsoho Abutu, a distinguished legal mind and revered jurist, was born on March 15, 1946, in Abocho—now the administrative center of Biraidu district—within the former Igala Native Authority, present-day Kogi State. His birth came during a pivotal era in Igala history, shortly after the installation of the revered Attah of Igala, His Royal Majesty Ameh Oboni.

He was born into the respected Abutu-Aji Awulu family. His mother, Attah-Anukwu Awulu (née Attah-Anukwu Ochu), was the only wife of his father. Together, they had nine children—four sons and five daughters—with Daniel being the youngest. Remarkably, both of his parents were in their fifties at the time of his birth. This rare circumstance inspired his first name, Dantsoho, meaning “child of old parents,” a name given by a close Hausa family friend present on the day he was born.

Justice Abutu’s heritage is deeply rooted in the traditions and history of the Igala people. His paternal lineage traces back to Abejukolo-Ife, now located in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State. In the 18th century, his great-grandfather, Odomodo, son of the famed hunter Aba Okachikwu, migrated during a hunting expedition to what is now Dekina Local Government Area. Odomodo’s descendants form a key branch of the Aba Okachikwu Ruling House of Abejukolo-Ife.

On his maternal side, Justice Abutu descended from Okwoli family, the ancestral founder of the Abocho people. This dual heritage not only linked him to prominent ruling houses but also embedded him firmly in the historical and cultural fabric of the region he would go on to serve with distinction.

2. Early Life and Education

The early years of Hon. Justice Daniel Dantsoho Abutu were marked by promise, resilience, and personal loss. In January 1955, thanks to the efforts of a devoted Christian missionary, Mr. Stephen Ogala Ejigbo, a mission infant school was established in Ajegwuna—his hometown—and young Daniel was promptly enrolled. However, this promising start was shadowed by tragedy: his mother had passed away in 1953, and just one year after beginning school, his father died in August 1956, leaving him orphaned at the age of ten.

Despite these profound losses, Daniel’s educational journey continued through the unwavering support of his older siblings. In 1957, he was enrolled at Mission Primary School, Ajekelaga. His older brother, Egbunu Abutu, and most notably his sister, Ali Abutu—the second child of the family—became his guardians and greatest advocates. Ali, in particular, assumed a maternal role and ensured he remained in school, despite the hardships they faced. Her commitment proved decisive in shaping his future. Tragically, she passed away in 1994 while he was serving as a judge in the Enugu Division of the Federal High Court.

Justice Abutu completed his primary education at Qua Iboe Mission Primary School in Ugwolawo, Ofu Local Government Area, in December 1963. Demonstrating early leadership and responsibility, he served as a pupil teacher the following year at Mission Primary School in Olowa, beginning a brief but impactful teaching career.

In January 1965, with the support of his late cousin Elder Philip Uwada Itodo—a man remembered for his generosity and vision—Daniel was admitted to the prestigious Sudan United Mission Teachers College in Gindiri, Plateau State. Elder Itodo, who passed away in 2010, played a pivotal role in helping him pursue higher education. Daniel successfully earned his Grade II Teacher’s Certificate in December 1969.

He began teaching professionally in January 1970 at Mission Primary School in Egume, Dekina Local Government Area. Later that same year, he moved to Zaria, where he joined the Zaria Local Authority and was posted to teach at Makarfi Local Government Primary School. After three months of teaching there, his academic ambitions drew him back to school.

In September 1972, Daniel gained admission to the School of Basic Studies at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, marking the beginning of his formal journey into the legal profession. He studied law at the university’s Kongo Campus, laying the academic foundation for a career that would eventually lead him to the highest echelons of Nigeria’s judiciary.

3. Legal Training and Early Practice

After completing his preparatory studies, Daniel Dantsoho Abutu was admitted into the Faculty of Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he pursued his Bachelor of Laws degree at the Kongo Campus. In 1975, he graduated with an LLB (Hons), a defining milestone in a journey that had begun in the humble classrooms of missionary schools and village primary schools across Kogi State.

In October of the same year, he enrolled in the Nigerian Law School to undergo the final stage of legal training required for entry into the legal profession. His rigorous dedication to the law paid off when, on July 3, 1976, he was formally called to the Nigerian Bar—becoming a qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Following his call to the bar, he fulfilled the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, serving in the then-Gongola State. This posting exposed him to diverse legal and cultural experiences across Nigeria, enriching his understanding of the country’s plural legal landscape and deepening his appreciation of justice in a multi-ethnic society.

Upon completing his national service, Justice Abutu entered private legal practice in July 1977. He began his professional career in the prestigious law chambers of Chief Solomon Daushep Lar, located at No. 14 Ahmadu Bello Way, Jos, Plateau State. Under the mentorship of Chief Lar—a prominent political figure and seasoned legal practitioner—he refined his advocacy skills and developed the legal acumen that would become his hallmark on the bench.

By 1979, increasing demand for his legal expertise from his native region, particularly within the Igala and Benue communities, prompted him to establish his own law firm. In 1980, he relocated the practice to Idah, strategically placing himself in closer proximity to those who needed his services most. There, he quickly became known not only for his legal brilliance but also for his humility, accessibility, and deep sense of justice.

4. Rise to the Bench and Judicial Leadership

Daniel Dantsoho Abutu’s exemplary legal practice and growing reputation for fairness and diligence did not go unnoticed. On December 14, 1988, he was appointed as a Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria—a well-earned recognition of his legal intellect, integrity, and deep commitment to justice. He was formally sworn in the following month, in January 1989.

Though he once aspired to ascend to the Supreme Court within two decades of his call to the Bar, destiny charted a different but equally distinguished path. Reflecting on this later in life, he would often say, “God’s will prevailed.” That divine path led him to the pinnacle of the Federal High Court itself, where he served with honor and distinction as the Chief Judge.

His tenure as Chief Judge was brief in duration but monumental in impact. In just 18 months, Justice Abutu implemented transformative reforms that strengthened the institutional foundation and operational capacity of the Federal High Court. One of his most notable achievements was the commissioning and inauguration of the Federal High Court Headquarters in Abuja—an enduring symbol of his vision and leadership.

Understanding the importance of access to justice, Justice Abutu prioritized the expansion of judicial reach across the country. Under his leadership, several new divisions of the Federal High Court were established, including those in Lokoja, Kebbi, and Jalingo. He also oversaw critical infrastructural upgrades and the construction of modern court buildings in key cities such as Lagos, Asaba, Ado-Ekiti, Kano, Awka, Gombe, and Lokoja. These efforts not only improved the court’s functionality but also enhanced public confidence in the federal judiciary.

5. Landmark Cases and Retirement

Throughout his distinguished career on the bench, Hon. Justice Daniel Dantsoho Abutu presided over numerous complex and nationally significant cases. His courtroom was known not only for the quality of its legal reasoning but also for his unshakeable commitment to fairness, constitutional order, and the public good.

Among the many landmark cases he adjudicated, one stands out for its historical and constitutional significance. During a period of national uncertainty, when President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was absent from the country due to illness, the legality of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan acting in a presidential capacity became a subject of national debate. Justice Abutu presided over the constitutional matter and issued a decisive ruling that affirmed the vice president’s authority to function in the president’s absence. This judgment helped avert a looming constitutional crisis, preserved democratic stability, and demonstrated the indispensable role of the judiciary in safeguarding the rule of law during moments of political tension.

On the 15th of March 2011, after more than two decades of impactful service on the Federal High Court—culminating in his appointment as Chief Judge—Justice Abutu retired from the bench. Yet, retirement for him was not a retreat from service, but a redirection of purpose.

While maintaining a residence in Abuja, he chose to return home and live among his people. There, he embraced his traditional responsibilities as the eldest man of the Abutu Aji family. In this role, he offered wise counsel, resolved local disputes, and remained an influential figure in his community. Drawing from a lifetime of legal and moral authority, he continued to serve his people with humility and grace until the very end of his life.

On June 3, 2025, Hon. Justice Daniel Dantsoho Abutu passed away peacefully. His departure marked the close of a life defined by public service, moral fortitude, and an unrelenting pursuit of justice. May the Almighty God, in His infinite mercy, grant his soul eternal rest.

6. Legacy of Family

Beyond the courtroom and his professional achievements, Hon. Justice Daniel Dantsoho Abutu was, above all, a devoted family man. His life was anchored not only in service to the nation but in the quiet strength and fulfillment found in his home and community.

He was a proud and loving father to 23 children, each of whom carried forward his values of discipline, education, and service. As a grandfather, his legacy grew even deeper—he was blessed with 60 grandchildren, forming a vast and vibrant family that reflected the depth of his love and the richness of his life.

To his children and grandchildren, he was more than a patriarch; he was a teacher, mentor, and moral compass. His presence was steady, his advice thoughtful, and his example unforgettable. Through his words and deeds, he instilled in his family the same principles that defined his career: integrity, humility, respect for others, and the pursuit of knowledge.

The extended Abutu-Aji family, and indeed the broader Igala community, held him in the highest regard—not only for his national stature but for his kindness, generosity, and unwavering sense of responsibility. In his later years, he remained actively involved in family and communal affairs, offering wisdom and guidance grounded in a lifetime of experience.

Justice Abutu’s legacy lives on not just in law books or court archives, but in the hearts and lives of those he loved and served. His story is one of quiet triumph, resilience in the face of adversity, and a deep, abiding commitment to others.

His life was not only etched in history—it was lived with purpose, grace, and dignity.

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