Saddik Abdullahi Mahuta is the longest-serving chief judge in

Katsina State Katsina State ( ; 𞤤𞤫𞤴𞤣𞤭 𞤳𞤢𞥁𞤭𞤲𞤢) is a state in the northwestern geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is bordered to the west by Zamfara State, to the east by Kano and Jigawa states, and to the south by Kaduna St ...

, Nigeria, serving from 1991 to 2013. He administered the

oath of office An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before assuming the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations. Suc ...

to civilian governors of Katsina State from 1991 to 2011.

Early life and education

Saddik Abdullahi Mahuta was born in Mahuta village of Malumfashi local government area of today's Katsina state. His father, Malam Abdullahi Sani Mahuta, was the 9th Galadiman Katsina, Hakimin Malumfashi till his death in 1991. Though born into a notable family, Mahuta had a simple and common life like any other child. Not long after his enrollment into primary school, he moved to Katsina city. Mahuta began his primary school in Malumfashi, but finished it in Katsina local government between 1956 and 1962. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Funtua, in 1963, and completed secondary education in 1969. Mahuta attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1973 to 1976, where he obtained his degree in Law and was called to the bar in

Nigerian Law School The Nigerian Law School is an educational institution set up to provide professional certification to graduates of law. The school was established in Lagos under the Legal Education Act 1962, now Legal Education (Consolidation Etc) Act Cap. L1 ...

in the same year.

Career

Mahuta was appointed as state counsel, Kaduna state between 1978 and 1979. He was a legal officer at Kaduna Cooperative Bank Limited between 1979 and 1983. Along with other lawyers, Mahuta established private legal practice known as Godiya Chambers Kaduna from 1983 to 1987. Katsina became a state in 1987, and Mahuta was appointed the first solicitor general and permanent secretary of the new state between 1987 and 1989. He became High Court judge in 1989, a position he held until he was appointed as chief judge, Katsina State in 1991. Justice Mahuta is the longest-serving chief judge of the state. He administered the oath of office to the first civil governor of the third republic, Alhaji Sa'idu Barda, and the first two governors of the fourth republic late Umaru Musa Yar'adua in 1999 and 2003, and Barrister Ibrahim Shehu Shema in 2007 and 2011. He retired from civil service in 2013.

Galadiman Katsina

After the death of Honourable Justice Mamman Nasir on 13 April 2019, the Emir of Katsina, Dr. AbdulMumin Kabir Usman, through the Secretary of Katsina Emirate Council and Sallaman Katsina, Alhaji Bello Ifo, appointed Justice Saddik Abdullahi Mahuta as the successor of Justice Mamman Nasir. The retired justice was turbaned as the 11th Galadiman Katsina, the district head of Malumfashi (Hakimin Malumfashi) on Saturday, 1 June 2019 in the Emir's Palace, Katsina.

Personal life

Mahuta married Hajiya Hadiza Abdullahi Mahuta in 1979.

Memberships

Mahuta is a member of

World Jurist Association The World Jurist Association (WJA), formerly known as the World Peace Through Law Center, is a non-governmental organization based in the United States that aims to strengthen and increase the rule of law around the world through cooperation. It ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahuta, Saddik Abdullahi Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Nigerian judges