Born on December 31, 1939, in Kutigi, Lavun Local area of Niger state, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Niger State before he was appointed High Court Judge. He joined the Supreme Court in 1992 and was appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria on January 30, 2007. He served in that capacity until December 30, 2009. He died at the age of 79 after a brief illness.