An array to his biography culled from the ‘Icon & Achiever in Gombe state’ reveals that, Hon. Justice Hakila Yalla Heman was born on September 4, 1954, in Nyuwar, Balanga local government area, Gombe state. Educated at Primary School, Nyuwar from 1962 to 1968, and Government Secondary School, Kaltungo from1968 to 1973, Hon Justice Heman proceeded to the North-East College of Arts and Science (now University of Maiduguri) from 1973 to 1975. He thereafter, got admitted to read law at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1975 and graduated with LL.B degree (Hon) in 1978. His lordship was immediately enrolled into Nigerian Law School in 1978, and was later Called-to-Bar in July, 1979 accordingly.
His Lordship’s surjourn into public service could be traced to 1978 when he joined the service of the defunct Bauchi state Ministry of Justice as Legal Trainee. He rose to the position of state counsel in 1980, and subsequently, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in 1986. Between 1988 and 1989, he was Solicitor – General and Director-General, Ministry of Justice, Bauchi state. He was appointed Attorney General/Commissioner of Justice in the defunct Bauchi state from 1989 to 1990.
His Lordship’s judicial carrier in the bench glowed with his appointment as a judge of High Court of Justice, in then Bauchi state on August 9, 1990. While on the bench, my lord was made the Chairman, Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Bauchi state in 1995. Upon the creation of Gombe state out of Bauchi state in 1996, he remained a judge of high court of Gombe state and still reserved his position as chairman of the robbery tribunal from 1997 to 1999. My lord reached the zenith of his carrier on May 3, 1998, when he rose to the position of chief judge, Gombe state – a position he diligently holds until his retirement on the September 4, 2019.
Hon Justice H.Y. Heman, jurist and administrator, served in several capacities in various commissions and boards. He was a member, High Powered Board of Inquiry into the finances of all boards, parastatal and commissions in Bauchi state 1979 to 1984; member, prosecuting team in the Supreme Military Tribunal at Dodson Barracks, Lagos, 1984; member, judicial commission of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the missing motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles confiscated from banned political parties, Bauchi state, 1986; member, high powered committee for establishing teachers service commission, Bauchi state 1985; counsel to the judicial commission of inquiry into Maitatsine civil disturbances, 1985; counsel to the judicial commission of inquiry into faulty construction works in some educational institutions in Bauchi state, 1986; member, high powered committee of inquiry into fire incidence of Women Teachers College, Nabardo, Bauch state, 1987; member, screening committee of candidates for local government elections, Bauchi state, 1987; member, board of governors, National Judicial Institute, Abuja.
In 1998, upon elevation of our noble lord, the current President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab A. Bulkachuwa, to the appellate court, Justice Heman was sworn to as the chief judge of Gombe state – a position his lordship held for more than two decades, and unarguably, one of the longest chief judges in Nigeria.
No closing farewell remark befits this legal colossus than what was credited to Jacques in his literature book, “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare: Act 2, Scene 7: “All the world is a stage. And all the men and women merely players. They have their entrance and their exits. And one mean in his time plays many parts. His acts being seven ages”.
A Fulbright legal guru who has garnered extensive experience in all areas of law with numerous honours under his belt, Hon Justice Hakila Yalla Heman CON has played his part, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 65 years on September 4, 2019. I wish my noble law lord happy retirement!
Barrister Kala is a researcher and can be reached via [email protected]
