Muntaka Connmassie
Muntaka Connmassie (1946–2017) was a Nigerian jurist who served on the Court of Appeal and as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (2008–2016). He was awarded the national honour CON.
Muntaka Connmassie (10 February 1946 – 12 October 2017) was a Nigerian jurist and federal judge. Born in Kaduna State, Nigeria, he rose through the federal judiciary to become a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, serving on the nation’s highest bench from 2008 until 2016. He held the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), a recognition of his public service.
Career and judicial service
Connmassie’s judicial career included long service on the Court of Appeal before his elevation to the Supreme Court. As an appellate judge he sat in several divisional stations, hearing appeals across different legal and factual contexts. Records note that he served in Port Harcourt (Port Harcourt division), Jos, Abuja, Ilorin (Ilorin division) and Benin (Benin division), reflecting the mobile and nationwide character of appellate work in Nigeria.
Role on the Supreme Court
As a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Connmassie was one of a small panel of judges charged with deciding matters of final appeal, constitutional interpretation and significant points of law. The Supreme Court is the court of last resort in Nigeria, and its decisions set binding precedents that shape legal practice and public policy. Connmassie served on the court during a period when the judiciary continued to play a central role in adjudicating electoral and constitutional disputes.
Recognition and retirement
During his public service he was awarded the CON, a federal honour recognizing meritorious service to the nation. He left the Supreme Court in 2016; his tenure on that court ran from 2008 to 2016. Following his retirement from active service he remained a notable figure until his death.
Death and legacy
Justice Muntaka Connmassie died on 12 October 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria, at the age of 71. Colleagues and commentators remembered him for his long experience on the bench and for contributions to the body of Nigerian appellate jurisprudence. For a summary profile and further context on his judicial career see: profile and references.
- Born: 10 February 1946, Kaduna State.
- Supreme Court Justice: 2008–2016.
- Former Court of Appeal judge: served in divisions including Port Harcourt, Ilorin and Benin.
- Died: 12 October 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Muntaka Connmassie Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/67580
Sources
- supremecourt.gov.ng : "Hon. Justice Muntaka Connmassie JSC, CON"
- dailyindependentnig.com : "As Coomassie, bridge builder, mounts ACF saddle - Arewa"
- vanguardngr.com : Ex-Supreme Court Judge, Coommassie dies at 71