Career
He is from Ushongo in what is now Benue State. He was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday 30 December 2009 by his predecessor as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Idris Legbo Kutigi. There was some controversy over the ceremony, since in all previous ceremonies the Oath of Office was administered by the President of Nigeria.
However, President Umaru Yar"Adua was unavailable on account of ill health since November 2009, and had failed to hand over to his Vice President.