Tribute to Late Hon. Justice Daniel Dantsoho Abutu

By Barr. Prince Ben s Ikani

Former Attorney General, Kogi State

Former Director, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

Former Commander, NDLEA, Ekiti State

Former Director/Prosecutor, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

Managing Solicitor, The Citadel of Justice Law Firms, Abuja FCT

With a heart filled with sorrow, yet illuminated by deep gratitude and reverence, I rise in tribute to a titan of the Nigerian judiciary—the late Honourable Justice Daniel Dantsoho Abutu, whose life and work have left an indelible mark on our nation’s legal history.

Justice Abutu was not only a distinguished jurist and administrator of justice, but to me—Barrister Prince Ben s Ikani—he was a mentor, father figure, and guiding light whose wisdom and character helped mold me into the legal profession I am today.

🏛️ A Judicial Beacon of Integrity and Courage

Born on March 15, 1946, in Kogi State, Justice Abutu rose from humble beginnings to become a revered judge and Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. He held this prestigious office with distinction, first as acting Chief Judge in September 2009, and later confirmed in November 2009. He served until his retirement in 2011, leaving behind a record defined by intellectual depth, legal activism, and principled adjudication.

He presided over complex constitutional, commercial, and criminal cases with enviable clarity and fairness. His judicial pronouncements were not only lawful—they were timeless. Notably:

In 1999, he courageously halted the arbitrary closure of the Nigerian Law School Lagos Campus, defending legal education at a time when the nation was emerging from military rule.

In 2010, during the constitutional crisis occasioned by presidential incapacitation, his ruling on Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution offered the legal clarity that paved the way for the National Assembly’s invocation of the Doctrine of Necessity—a decision that helped stabilize Nigeria's democracy.

⚖️ Administrator and Nation Builder

Justice Abutu was not content with courtroom excellence alone. He worked tirelessly to build the judiciary as an institution:

He established the Lokoja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, expanding justice delivery to underrepresented regions, including his own homeland.

As Chief Judge, he nurtured a collegial and ethical culture among judges and staff, emphasizing discipline, humility, and lifelong learning.

His concern for institutional integrity made him a beacon of reform during his tenure, albeit brief.

🧠 A Mentor Who Molded Giants

To me, however, Justice Abutu’s greatest achievement was not written in law reports, but in the lives he touched and the legal minds he shaped. I am one of those beneficiaries.

As a young legal practitioner navigating the challenging terrains of public prosecution, enforcement, and justice administration, I encountered Justice Abutu early in my journey. His wise counsel, encouragement, and firm moral compass helped anchor my own values and ambition. He did not only mentor by words—he mentored by example.

Through him, I learned:

That the law is not a weapon of power, but a shield of justice;

That courage, even in a hostile system, is the lifeblood of a jurist;

That humility is not weakness—but the true strength of a judge.

Today, as a former Attorney General of Kogi State, and as someone who has served as a Director in both the NDLEA and the EFCC, I look back and see the fingerprints of Justice Abutu's mentorship all over my growth. Now, as the Managing Solicitor of The Citadel of Justice Law Firms, Abuja, I continue to pass on the values he instilled in me—integrity, discipline, and devotion to the rule of law.

📜 A Legacy that Transcends the Bench

Justice Abutu's transition is a great loss to the Nigerian legal community. His life was a testament to justice tempered with compassion, discipline refined with kindness, and authority exercised with humility.

The tributes that pour in from across the country—from the judiciary, the bar, the academy, and the public—are proof that this man was not only a judge, but a national asset.

🙏 Farewell, My Lord… My Father… My Mentor

Your death has left a void that will not easily be filled. But your legacy lives in us—your mentees, your colleagues, and the Nigerian people you served. You taught us not just how to read the law, but how to live it.

May the Almighty reward your labour, bless your family, and grant you eternal rest.

Signed

Barr. Prince Ben s Ikani

Managing Solicitor, The Citadel of Justice Law Firms

Abuja, FCT

Published by Akwu Goodman 

Media consultant to former Commissioner for Justice  & Antony General of Kogi state