Chris Abutu Garuba was Governor of Bauchi State, Nigeria from August 1985 to December 1988 during the military regime of Major General Ibrahim Babangida.

[5] He was Chief Military Observer to the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II from July 1994 to February 1995, monitoring the cease fire between the rebel UNITA forces and the government troops.

[6][7] He was appointed Commandant, National War College, Abuja (colonels and brigadiers), and was a member of the Provisional Ruling Council in the Sani Abacha regime.

[8] Garuba was chief of staff during the transitional regime of General Abdusalami Abubakar, who handed over power at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic.

[9] In 2006, Garuba attempted to buy his official residence in Lagos when it was put up for sale, but the Presidential Implementation Committee under the Chairmanship of the Minister of State for Housing and Urban development, Grace Ekpiwhre, rejected his bid.