By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
At its plenary session on Thursday June 7, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria confirmed the appointment of Honourable Justice Adamu Abdu Kafarati as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
Justice Kafarati was sworn-in as acting Chief Judge inside the hallow chambers of the Supreme Court Abuja by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Honourable Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen on September 16, 2017, following the retirement of the then Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Ibrahim Ndahi Auta upon attaining the statutory age of 65 years.
Since Justice Kafarati was sworn-in, he has been acting Chief Judge until his confirmation yesterday (Thursday) by the Senate, having been screened earlier.
Born in 1954 at Kwami in Bauchi State, Justice Adamu Kafarati has worked in various capacities in the justice sector before ascending to the present exalted position of Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
He worked as State Counsel 11 in the Ministry of Justice Bauchi in 1980; State Counsel 1 in 1981; and Senior State Counsel 11 in August 1982 under same Ministry of Justice Bauchi.
In August 1983, he was elevated to Senior State Counsel 1; Secretary to Bauchi State Development Board from December 1984 to December 1986; Principal State Counsel (Notionally) January 1986 to 1988; Principal State Counsel January 1987 and Assistant Administrator General, August 1988.
In October 31, 1991, he was appointed judge of Federal High Court. His hobbies are reading and farming.
Having been born in 1954, Justice Kafarati may not stay in office as Chief Judge for too long. He is likely to retire in 2019 at the time he would have attained the constitutional retirement age of 65 years.