Hon. Justice Gumna Kashim Kaigama

Hon. Justice Gumna Kashim Kaigama is the current Chief Judge of Yobe State, Nigeria. He was appointed as Acting Chief Judge in June 2020 following the death of his predecessor, Justice Garba Musa Nabaruma. His appointment was based on merit, following recommendations by the Yobe State Judicial Service Commission and the National Judicial Council. He was officially sworn in as the substantive Chief Judge on September 29, 2020, by Governor Mai Mala Buni.

Early Life and Education

Justice Kaigama was born on March 1, 1964, in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State. He attended Damagum Primary School (1969–1974) and Government Secondary School Damboa (1976–1980). He completed a remedial program at the University of Maiduguri (1982–1983) before earning his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Hons) degree from the same university in 1987. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after attending the Nigerian Law School in Lagos.

Legal Career

Justice Kaigama began his legal career as a private legal practitioner from 1989 to 1995. He was appointed Chief Magistrate Grade 1 in 1995 and served as Chief Registrar of the Sharia Court of Appeal in Damaturu from 1996 to 1999. In 1999, he was appointed as a Judge of the Yobe State High Court of Justice, a position he held until his elevation to Chief Judge. He also served as Chairman of the Zamfara State Election Petition Tribunal (May–November 2011) and the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal (December 2019–May 2020).

Judicial Reforms and Initiatives

As Chief Judge, Justice Kaigama has implemented several reforms to enhance the efficiency of the judiciary in Yobe State. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched virtual court proceedings in June 2020 to ensure the continuity of judicial services while adhering to safety protocols. This initiative was supported by the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) and the MacArthur Foundation, which pro

---