Last updated on January 25th, 2023 at 08:31 pm
Since 1960 till date, Nigeria has produced 23 Ministers of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation. The minister is in charge of prosecuting crimes against the State and defending civil cases on behalf of the Federal Government.
The first pioneer Minister of Justice was a renowned jurist Taslim Olawale Elias from 1960 till the military took over power in a military mutiny. The Ministry of Justice has agencies and departments that are coordinated by the minister.
The incumbent Attorney-General and Minister of Justice is Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Nigeria’s Justice Minister from 1960 to date
Below is a list of present and past ministers who were appointed by either an executive president of military head of state from 1960 till date.
| List of past and present Minister of Justice | Years in office |
| Abubakar Malami | November 11, 2015, till date |
| Mohammed Bello Adoke | July 2, 2011 to May 2015 |
| Mohammed Bello Adoke | April 6, 2010 to May 29, 2011 |
| Adetokunbo Kayode | Feb 10, 2010 to March 17, 2010 |
| Michael Aondoakaa | July 26, 2007 to Feb 10, 2010 |
| Bayo Ojo | July 2005 to July 2007 |
| Akin Olujimi | July 2003 to July 2005 |
| Kanu Godwin Agabi | 2002 to 2003 |
| Bola Ige | January 3, 2000, to December 23, 2001 |
| Kanu Godwin Agabi | June 1999 to January 2000 |
| Achiji Abdullahi Ibrahim | 1997 to May 1999 |
| Michael Ashikodi Agbamuche | 1994 to 1997 |
| Olu Onagoruwa | 1993 to 1994 |
| Clement Akpamgbo | 1991 to 1993 |
| Bola Ajibola | Sept 12, 1985, to Dec 4, 1991 |
| Chike Ofodile | 1984 to Aug. 1985 |
| Kehinde Sofola | Oct 1983 to Dec. 1983 |
| Richard Akinjide | 1979 to 1983 |
| Augustine Nnamani | 1975 to 1979 |
| Dan Onuorah Ibekwe | 1972 to 1975 |
| Nabo Graham-Douglas | 1966 to 1972 |
| G.I.M Onyiuke | March 1, 1966 to July 29, 1966 |
| Taslim Olawale Elias | 1960 to 1966 |
No female has ever been Nigeria’s Justice Minister
From the list above, no woman has ever been appointed as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice since Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
One day, we hope a woman will break this jinx just as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala did as the first female Minister of Finance in Nigeria during the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.
Conclusion:
The Ministry of Justice isn’t only saddled with the responsibility of defending civil cases on behalf of the Federal Government, he also upholds the principle of law.
Unfortunately, most of those who occupied the position during the military regime found themselves in a difficult position because all the military regimes in Nigeria violated fundamental human rights and no justice was done.
Who is Nigeria’s first Minister of Justice?
Taslim Elias was the first Nigerian Minister of Justice after independence (1960 to 1966).
He would later become a judge and president of the International Court of Justice at The Hague
What is Michael Aondoakaa famous for as Nigeria’s former Minister of Justice?
Mr Aondoakaa was famous for saying that President Umar Musa Yar’Adua could rule Nigeria from his Saudi Arabia hospital bed. Yar’Adua died in May 2010.
Who is Nigeria’s longest Minister of Justice?
Abubakar Malami is the longest-serving Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.
Mr Malami assumed office as Nigeria’s Justice Minister on November 11, 2015. After the first term of President Muhammadu Buhari, he was reappointed on August 21, 2019.
