A. I. Katsina-Alu

Aloysius Iyorgyer Katsina-Alu was a Nigerian jurist and the first Benue State indigene appointed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, who served as the 11th Chief Justice of Nigeria from 30 December 2009 to 26 August 2011. He died in Abuja on 18 July 2018, aged 76.

Katsina-Alu was born on 28 August 1941 in Ushongo, Benue State.

He attended St Anne's Primary School, Tarungwa, St. Patrick's Primary School, Taraku, and Mount St. Michael's Secondary School, Aliade, before attending the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna (1962), initially training for a military career. He later studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and at the Inns of Court School of Law and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (1964), being called to the English Bar in October 1967.

Katsina-Alu was called to the Nigerian Bar in June 1968 and began private practice in Lagos, before serving as a Legal Officer with the Nigeria Ports Authority (1969-77). He served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Benue State (1978-79), before being appointed a Judge of the Benue State High Court (1979-85) and a Justice of the Court of Appeal (1985-98).

Katsina-Alu was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on 25 November 1998, becoming the first Benue State indigene appointed to the Supreme Court bench, and served as the 11th Chief Justice of Nigeria from 30 December 2009 to 26 August 2011.

First Benue State indigene appointed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and the state's only Chief Justice of Nigeria to date.

• 28 August 1941 — Born at Ushongo, Benue State
• 1978-1979 — Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Benue State
• 25 November 1998 — Appointed Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
• 30 December 2009 — Became Chief Justice of Nigeria
• 26 August 2011 — Retired as Chief Justice of Nigeria
• 18 July 2018 — Died in Abuja