Hon. Mr. Justice Paul Adamu Galumje was born on the 21st day of April, 1950 at Didan in Kurmi Local Government Area of Taraba State. He attended the Sudan United Mission Primary School, Baissa from 1959 – 1963. Government Secondary School, Ganye from 1964 – 1968. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1974 – 1977 (LLB. Hons). Nigerian Law School from 1977 – 1978. He was called to the Nigerian Bar on 8th July, 1978. He is a member of the International Dispute Resolution Institute (MIDRI, 2015).
Paul Adamu Galumje started his early career as a teacher with a temporary job at the North-Eastern Ministry of Education. He was later appointed an Immigration Assistant in the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1972. He became an Assistant Registrar in the North-Eastern State Judiciary, Gongola State in 1974 and was promoted to the post of a Higher Registrar in 1977.
Hon. Justice Galumje’s career in the judiciary began with his appointment as the Acting Magistrate Grade II on the 2nd of October, 1979, in the then Gongola State Judiciary. He grew through the magistracy ladder from becoming a substantive Magistrate Grade II on 8th July, 1980; Senior Magistrate Grade I in 1984; Chief Magistrate Grade II in 1985 and Chief Magistrate Grade I in 1987; a post he held until 1989 when he was appointed Deputy Chief Registrar. On the 11th of April, 1990, Hon. Justice P. A. Galumje was appointed High Court Judge. He was elevated as a Justice of the Court of Appeal on 22nd November, 2005 and to the Supreme Court of Nigeria on 5th of December, 2016.
Some of his adhoc assignments include; Secretary, Ekundayo Commission of Inquiry into Gongola State Local Government Finances in 1986. Chairman, Commission of Inquiry on the review of the Administrative Report of the Finances of Michika, Mubi, Maiha and Song Local Governments in 1988. Chairman, Justice Galinje Commission of Inquiry into the Jalingo Disturbances of 1992. He also served as Chairman, Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Taraba State from 1994 – 1999; Chairman, Justice Galinje Commission of Inquiry into the Auction Sales of Vehicles, Tractors, Machineries and Plants in Taraba between 1995 and 1996.
Hon. Justice P. A. Galumje attended and participated in International and local Workshops, Seminars and Conferences including: Magistrates Association of Nigeria Annual Conference held in Minna, Niger State from 4th – 8th November, 1985. Judicial Lectures at the Gateway Hotel, Abeokuta, Ogun State in 1991. All Nigerian Judges Conference, Port Harcourt, River State in 1993, Kano in 1995, and the editions of 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. International Seminar on Human Rights, Lagos in 1992. National Workshop on Judiciary and Democracy, Abuja, 1997. Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges Association Conference, Edinburgh, 2000. Arbitration and ADR Professional Accreditation and Membership Workshop, Dubai, 2015. Maritime Seminar for Judges, 2014, 2016. NDIC Sensitization Seminar on the Challenges to Deposit Insurance, Law and Practice in Nigeria, 2013.
Hon. Justice Galumje has presented Papers at Workshops and Seminars. Some of his Papers include:
- “Criminal Procedure in Magistrates’ And Area Court, The Charge, Bail, A Plea of Not Guilty, No Case to Answer, Case to Answer, Verdict” – Presented at the National Judicial Institute Workshop for Magistrates and Area Court Judges, held at Yola, 1994.
- “Prison Congest, Alternative to Imprisonment” – Presented at the National Judicial Institute Workshop for Judges, 1996.
- “Court of Appeal Rules, A Practical Approach” – Presented at the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin branch Retreat, 2013.
Hon. Justice Galumje is married and blessed with eight children.
Source: Supreme Court; NLIP Watch