Profile: Justice Jummai Sankey, OFR, JSC
Hon Justice Jummai Hannatu Chundung Sankey, was born on 16th January, 1959.
She hails from Du in Jos South LGA of Plateau State.
Justice Sankey began her educational career at the Latimer Nursery School, London, and later at St. Anne’s Boarding Primary School, Kaduna.
She attended secondary education at Queen Amina College, Kaduna, and later ended at St. Louis College, Jos, Plateau State.
The legal icon studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and graduated in 1979, before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, for her BL in 1980.
Justice Sankey was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Plateau State on October 8, 1993 and was later elevated to the Court of Appeal on June 8, 2006.
Prior to her recent elevation to Justice of the Supreme Court, she was the presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Awka Division, Anambra State, after heading the Gombe Division, among others.
Hon Justice Sankey has set a record as the first Plateau State indigene to become a Justice of the Supreme Court (JSC).
The eminent jurist is often described by members of the Bar and Bench, journalists and litigants generally in four cardinal words as “fearless, forthright, uncompromising, and incorruptible.”
Some of the landmark cases handled by Justice Sankey include:
Presiding over a 5-man Appeal Court Panel that overturned an election tribunal decision and re-affirmed Gov Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State in 2019.
Presiding over the Appeal Court Panel that affirmed Gov Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State as duly elected in 2023.
Presiding over the Appeal Court Panel that dismissed the petition of James Faleke, and affirmed the election of Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi State in 2016.
Presiding over the Appeal Court Panel that unanimously freed and ordered the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on October 13, 2022.
Her father, the late Lt.-Col. Yakubu Pam was Adjutant-General of the Nigerian Army.
He had led the Nigeria-Tanzania Bilateral Special Training and Security Mission in 1964.
The late Col. Pam was murdered during the Nigerian military coup of 15th January 1966.
The then little Jummai, the second daughter of the late Yakubu and Elizabeth Pam, turned just 7 the following day.
Prominent among her siblings are Prof Ishaya Pam, a former Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH); Dr Ishaku Pam; Dr Ishaya Pam; Kaneng Pam; Barr. Yusufu Pam and Barr. James Pam.
Her mother was a member of the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (Oputa Panel) set up by the Obasanjo administration in the year 2000.
The Commission was tasked with investigating human rights abuses dating back to the military coup of 15th January 1966 till 28th May 1999, the day before the last military handover to civilians.
Her husband was the late Prof Yakubu Sankey, a former Acting Director-General of the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).
He was brutally murdered when terrorists stormed his Zango-Kataf home on 24th May, 2023.
On account of her fearless landmark judgments and meritorious service in the nation’s judiciary, she was conferred with the prestigious National Honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May, 2023.
Justice Sankey is currently the President, National Association of Women Judges in Nigeria (NAWJN),
She is ranked 4th in the seniority list of the Court of Appeal.
