By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
The Court of Appeal has held a special sitting and valedictory luncheon in honour of its Presiding Justice of the Abuja Division, Justice Hamma Akawu Barka, as part of activities marking the court’s Golden Jubilee and ahead of his retirement.
Justice Barka is due to retire on April 17, 2026, upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70.
At the event held in Abuja on Thursday, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, clarified that the jurist remains in active service, dismissing suggestions of his early exit as misleading.
“My lord still has weeks of hard work. He is not retiring yet,” she said, noting that the ceremony was organised in anticipation of his retirement.
She described the special sitting as the third in a series of commemorative events held to mark the court’s 50th anniversary, following similar sessions in Lagos and Port Harcourt.
Paying tribute, the Court of Appeal President lauded Justice Barka as “a gentleman of the highest order,” highlighting his diligence, calm temperament and commitment to duty.
She recalled their professional relationship spanning over four decades, noting that he had served with distinction across several divisions, including Benin, Ilorin, Akure, Calabar and Abuja.
Justice Dongban-Mensem commended his resilience, observing that he consistently discharged his duties even under challenging conditions.
The Chief Registrar of the Court, Umar Bangari, who spoke on behalf of the court’s management and staff, described the occasion as a celebration of an “erudite scholar” and accomplished jurist.
Tracing his career, Bangari said Justice Barka was called to the Bar in 1980 and began his judicial career as a Magistrate in Bauchi State in 1981. He later rose through the ranks, serving at the High Court before his elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2014.
“After an illustrious judicial career spanning about 45 years, his lordship retires on April 17, 2026. He will be sorely missed,” he said.
Goodwill messages poured in from colleagues across divisions of the court, who described Justice Barka as a disciplined, humble and principled jurist.
Presiding Justice of the Maiduguri Division, Justice A.A.B. Gumel, described the event as “bittersweet,” noting that while it was a moment of celebration, the court would deeply feel his absence.
Similarly, Justice M.A. Danjuma of the Kano Division said the occasion evoked “a feeling of great loss,” recalling their longstanding professional relationship and praising Barka’s intellectual depth and simplicity.
Other speakers, including Justice B.B. Aliyu and Justice A.B. Mohammed, highlighted his mentorship, leadership qualities and contributions to the growth of the Abuja Division, noting that his guidance had a lasting impact on colleagues and staff.
Speaking on behalf of the Bar, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, John Adele, commended the retiring jurist’s composure, professionalism and sound judgments, describing him as “never ruffled” in the discharge of his duties.
Staff of the court, represented by Deputy Chief Registrar Josephine Aliyu, also praised his leadership, describing him as a mentor and father figure whose tenure strengthened professional capacity within the division.
The event also featured a renewed call by the Court of Appeal President for the elevation of the National Judicial Institute into a judicial university to enhance capacity building within the judiciary.
Highlighting achievements of the special sitting, Justice Dongban-Mensem disclosed that 21 panels comprising 63 justices were constituted, during which 330 appeals were heard and resolved within four days.
“This reflects the court’s commitment to improving the administration of justice,” she said, commending the collaboration of courts and security agencies within the Federal Capital Territory.
In his response, Justice Barka expressed gratitude to the court’s leadership, his colleagues and staff for the honour accorded him.
“I am short of words. I did not expect this,” he said, while acknowledging the support he received throughout his career.
He traced his journey from Magistrate to Presiding Justice of the Abuja Division, noting the camaraderie and sense of unity within the Court of Appeal.
Justice Barka affirmed that he remains in active service and is still working on pending judgments, pledging continued support to the judiciary even after retirement.
“Wherever I go, I will remain an ambassador of this court,” he said.
The event drew participation from justices, senior lawyers, court officials and family members, who celebrated the contributions of the retiring jurist to Nigeria’s judiciary.
