JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA

SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA JUSTICES

The Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria are appointed by the President of Nigeria on recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to the confirmation of the senate.

Pursuant to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, the judgement or decision of the Supreme Court shall not be subject to any further appeal to any other court.

The Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria often sit in 5 member panel to determine most matters and must sit in a panel of seven justices to determine constitutional matters in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.

Below are the profiles of the current justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad CFR

Hon. Mr. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad CFR

About Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad CFR, CJN

Hon. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR, CJN was born on the 31st December 1953. He hails from Doguwa, Giade Local Government of Bauchi State. He attended primary school at Giade Primary School from 1961 to 1968. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Azare from the year 1969 to 1973. His Lordship then proceeded to Abdullahi Bayero University College, Kano for his IJMB from 1975 to 1976. After a successful completion of his course, His Lordship got admission to read Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1976 to 1980. He attended Nigerian Law School from 1980 to 1981. In furtherance of his educational career, His Lordship went back to the prestigious ABU, Zaria for his Masters Degree in Law (LLM) on Part Time basis, from 1982 to 1984. In order to update himself in the field of Law, His Lordship went back to ABU, Zaria in 1987 to 1998 and obtained his Doctorate Degree (PHD) in Law, also on Part Time basis.

Hon. Justice I. T. Muhammad, CFR was appointed as Magistrate Grade II in 1982 to 1984 with Bauchi State Judiciary. He rose to Senior Magistrate Grade II from 1984 to 1986. His Lordship was appointed as the Provost, College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Bauchi from 1986 to 1989. He was appointed Chief Magistrate/Deputy Chief Registrar, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from 1990 to 1991. From 1991 to 1993, he was appointed as Kadi (Judge) of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Bauchi State. His Lordship was elevated to the position of Justice of the Court of Appeal from 1993 to 2006. His Lordship was appointed as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the year 2006 and was sworn in on the 8th of January 2007.

In July 2019, he was appointed and confirmed as a substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria

Hon. Mr. Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour CFR

About Olabode Rhodes-Vivour CFR

On 22nd of March 1951, a bouncing baby boy was born to the family of Honourable Justice (Chief) Akinwumi R. W. Rhodes-Vivour in Lagos Island. According to customs and tradition, he was named eight days after as Olabode Rhodes-Vivour.

He started primary school in 1956. And quite unusually, he attended three (3) different primary schools i.e. Maryland Primary School, Ikeja, Lagos, St. Msthias Primary School, Akure, and Ibadan District Council School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1963.

Between 1963 and 1968, Honourable Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour attended St. Gregory’s College, Lagos. In 1970, he wrote and passed his Advanced Level Certificate Examinations and proceeded to University of Lagos for his undergraduate studies. He graduated from University of Lagos in 1974 with honours, and thereafter he was admitted into the Nigerian Law School, and was called to the Bar in 1975.

Honourable Justices Olabode Rhodes-Vivour rose through the ranks to become the eminent jurist he is today. As soon as he was called to Bar, he began to practice in his calling and by 1976, he became a Pupil State Counsel, shortly after, in 1978, he became a State Counsel and by 1982, he had become a Senior State Counsel. He was promoted to the position of a Principal State Counsel in 1984 and in 1989, he became Director of Public Prosecutions (D. P. P.) Lagos State, this position he held till 1994.

On the 18th of February 1994, he was appointed to the Bench as a High Court Judge. After many years of experience on the Bench at the High Court, he was elevated to the Bench of the Court of Appeal on the 25th of April 2005.

In 2008 on secondment by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was posted to Sierra Leone Judiciary as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone. At his return to Nigeria, after this posting, he was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the 16th of September 2010.

Honourable Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour is a man of sterling qualities and unparalleled achievements. He has been successfully involved in various National Assignments, some of which include;

Member Election Petition Tribunal, Rivers and Imo States, 1990.
Member Election Petition Tribunal, Kwara and Anambra States, 2003 and 2004.
Member Election Appeal Tribunal, Edo State, 2005 – 2006.
Member Election Appeal Tribunal in Oyo, Ogun and Osun States in 2009.

He has attended various international professional conferences. In 1979, under the auspices of Commonwealth of Nations, Honourable Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour took part in an international conference for a course in Legislative Drafting in School of Law, Nairobi, Kenya. Also in 1983, he attended a conference in Chicago, United States of America for an Advanced Course in Legal Drafting, similarly in 1992, he attended a Seminar on Drug Related Offences in Christ-church, University of Oxford, England. Honourable Justices Bode Rhodes-Vivour has equally attended conferences and delivered Papers within the Country. The conferences he has attended include;

Court Administration and Case Flow Management by the National Centre for State Courts.
Delegate and Rapporteur at All Nigeria Judges Conference, Abuja 2001.
Stakeholders’ Summit to Review High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules in Lagos State, 2002.
EMCAP Workshop on “Strengthening the Relationship Between the Bar and the Bench”, 2002.
Reform of Criminal Justice System, the Hague Netherlands, (24th – 27th August) 2003.
Chairman – Review of Criminal Procedure Law, Lagos State, 2004.

The Papers he has delivered include:

“Institution of Criminal Proceedings”, delivered at the training programme for newly appointed Judges, High Court of Lagos State, organized by the Judicial Commission of Lagos State, 7th June 2001.
“Fair Hearing, Law and Practice”, delivered at the Zonal Workshop for Customary Court Judges in Southern Zone, organized by the National Judicial Institute, 18th June, 2001.

He is a recipient of many excellent awards, prominent among these awards are:

An honourable award by Lagos State Government for Outstanding Contribution to the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, 2003.
Lagos State Judiciary Merit Awards in recognition of Invaluable Service to the High Court of Lagos State, December 2003.

And like they say “all work and no play make Jack a dull boy”, Honourable Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour is a social person, who sometimes relaxes and socializes with friends. He is a member of both Ikoyi and Islands Clubs of Lagos, and his hobbies are reading, watching sports, movies and documentaries.

Honourable Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour is happily married to Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, and they are blessed with three (3) children.

Hon. Mr. Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta CFR

About Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta CFR

Hon. Mr. Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta was born in 1951 in Amofia-Ukawu, Onicha Local government Ebonyi State. His lordship had his basic education in the Eastern part of Nigeria and got his LLB in University of Ife (Now Obafemi Awolowo University). lle-ife in 197- and BL at the Nigerian law school in 1978.My lord, Hon. Mr. Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, is an hard working and dedicated public servant, who was a primary school teacher, far back as 1966, he became a clerical officer (Account Ministry of Education in (Divisional School Board, Afikpo) August 1971). He was deployed as the state counsel in charge, Ministry of justice, Oturkpo, Benue State, during his National Youth Service Programme in August 1978-october 1979. He started his private legal practice at Abakaliki in July 1978-October 1995, from where he was appointed a judge of the High Court Abia state in October 1995 and there promoted to the Court of Appeal on 22nd May, 2003, was finally sworn-in as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in May 2011.

His lordship was the chairman of judicial panel of inquiry into the Obegu Enyibichirikwo Disturbance 1997-1998 and has been a member of several Election Petition Tribunal, Governship and legislative House Election Petition Tribunal; Nasarawa State held at Lafia in February 1999, National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Plateau State held at Jos in April 1999, among others.

His Lordship had attended several seminars within and outside Nigeria, and also presented several papers; “Elements of Good Brief Writing” delivered on 9th Nov.2005 on prosecution of Appeals for legal officers in Delta State Ministry of justice, “The Importance of Locus standi and Jurisdiction to the Dispensation of justice in Nigeria and Effect of same where Absent” delivered at law Dinner organised by law students’ Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi state University Chapter, Abakaliki on 17th August 2007. His lordship had received several awards such as Human Rights Awards by Human Rights Commission, Ebonyi state, on the World Human Right Day December 2000, Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award 2011/2012 by West African Students Union Parliament on 25th April, 2012, and Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) 2012.

Hon. Mr. Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta is happily married with children.

Hon. Mr. Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili CFR

About Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili CFR

Hon. Mr. Justice Mary Ukaego Odili nee Nzenwa was born on the 12 May, 1952 at AmudiObizi, Ezinihitte – Mbaise L.G.A. of Imo State.

She attended various Primary Schools including St Benedict’’s Primary School, Obizi Ezinihitte, St Michael’s Primary School, Umuahia, St Agnes Primary School, Maryland, Lagos and Our Lady of Apostles Primary School, Yaba, Lagos between 1959 and 1965.

She also attended various Secondary Schools including Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Yaba, Owerri Girls Secondary School, Owerri, Mbaise Girls Secondary School, Mbaise and the Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha between 1965 and 1972.

She later proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Enugu Campus) and obtained her Bachelor’’s Degree in Law (LL.B (Hons)) in 1976. She attended the Nigerian Law School in 1977 for her B.L certificate.

Her previous professional appointments/positions includes:

Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Abeokuta, Ogun State (1977 – 1978)

Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Benin, Bendel State (1978)

Magistrate Grade III, Benin, Bendel State (1978 -1979)

Chairman, Juvenile Court, Benin, Bendel State (1978 – 1979)

Magistrate Grade II, Rivers State(1979 – 1981)

Chairman, Juvenile Court, Rivers State (1979 – 1981)

Magistrate Grade I, Chief Magistrate Grade I (1981 – 1992)

Judge, High Court of Rivers State (1992 – 2004)

Justice, Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division (2004 – 2010)

Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division (2010 – 2011)

Hon. Justice Mary Ukaego Peter Odili was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) on 23 June, 2011.

She was conferred with National Honour Commander Federal Republic (CFR)

She is happily married with children.

Hon. Mr. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola

About Olukayode Ariwoola

Lord Ariwoola was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2011. His Lordship was a Justice of the Court of Appeal between 2005 and 2011 after having been elevated from the State High Court of Oyo State. His Lordship was first appointed a Judge of Superior Court of record in Oyo State in 1992 from private legal practice.

Lord Ariwoola started his educational career in his home town Iseyin at the Local Authority Demonstration School, Oluwole in Iseyin Local government of Oyo State between 1959 and 1967. He was in the Muslim Modern School in the same town between 1968 and 1969 before proceeding to Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, Saki in Oyo North of Oyo State.

His Lordship studied law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife and bagged his bachelor of laws degree with honors in July, 1980. In July 1981, Olu Ariwoola was called to the Nigeria bar and got enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate soon thereafter.

His Lordship was a State Counsel on National Youth Service (NYSC) at the Ministry of Justice, Akure, Ondo State and later as Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice of his home state Oyo State until 1988 when he voluntarily left the official bar of the State Civil Service for private practice. His Lordship worked as Counsel in-Chambers of Chief Ladosu Ladapo, SAN between October, 1988 and July 1989 when he established Olukayode Ariwoola & Co – a firm of legal Practitioners and Consultants in Oyo town in August, 1989 from where he was appointed in November, 1992 as a Judge of Oyo State Judiciary.

Hon. Justice Ariwoola was born to the Ariwoola family of Iseyin over 60 years ago. His Lordship must have something to do, in a way, with figure 2. While His Lordship was born on the 22nd August, he was sworn in as a Judge of the High Court on 2nd November, 1992, as a Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA) on 22nd November, 2005 and again was sworn in as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) on 22nd November, 2011.

Justice Ariwoola served as Chairman, Board of Directors, Phonex Motors Ltd – one of Oodua Investment conglomerate between 1988 and 1992. Chairman, Armed Robbery Tribunal, Oyo State between May 1993 and September, 1996 when he was posted out of the headquarters, Ibadan to Saki High Court. His Lordship served on the Election Tribunals in Zamfara and Enugu States in 1999. On Election Appeal Courts in Port-Harcourt, Enugu, Benin, Yola and Ilorin at various times.

Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, his lordship served as Justice of Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos Divisions. He is also a fellow of International Dispute Resolution Institute (FIDRI) having been inducted in Dubai, U.A.E in 2014.

His Lordship has attended many International and National conferences and workshops in France, Atlanta Georgia, UK and Dubai, UAE.

Lord Ariwoola is happily married with children and he loves reading, listening to good music, photography and shopping.

Hon. Mr. Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad

About Musa Dattijo Muhammad

Hon.Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad was born on 27th October,1953 in chanchaga local government area in Minna. His Lordship started his basic education in Native Authority School, Minna, 1960-1966; secondary school education at Shelkh Sabbah college (now sardauna memorial secondary school) kanuna 967-1971, and he proceeded to Abdullahi Bayero college (now Bayero University) Kano 1972-1973 for pre-degree certificate. And he got his LLB (Hons) at Ahmadu Bello University (Faculty of Law) Zaria 1973-1976, and his BL at the Nigerian Law School 1977. He proceeded to Warwick University Coventry UK for his LLM 1982-1983, and also institute of Advance Certificate in Practice procedure.

Hon. Mr. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun

About Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun

Hon. Mr. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo KEKERE-EKUN was born on May 7, 1958. She obtained her LL.B in 1980 from the University of Lagos and LL.M from the London School of Economic and Political Science in November 1983. She was called to the Nigerian Bar on 10th July 1981. She was appointed a Senior Magistrate Grade II, Lagos State Judiciary in December 1989. She was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State in July 1996. She served as Chairman Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos from November 1996 to May 1999. She was elevated as a Justice of the Court of Appeal on 22nd September 2004. She served as a member of the Court of Appeal ICT Committee from June 2011 to July 2013. She has attended numerous courses and seminars within and outside Nigeria, such as Case Management and Court Administration Training Workshop Organized by the National Centre for State Courts in June 2001, ICT Training Course (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) in Dubai UAE in July 2012 and the 34th Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime, Cambridge, UK in September 2016.

She was appointed a Justice of Supreme Court of Nigeria on June 8, 2013.

She has delivered papers at various workshops, seminars and training workshops for magistrates and judges among which are “Delay in Election Tribunal Proceedings: Solutions” delivered at the All Nigerian Judges’’ Conference, Abuja between 16th – 20th November, 2009, “Law: A Tool for Social Change” delivered at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan Branch Law Week on 30th November 2010, and “Stimulation and Sustenance of Economic Development through the Use of ADR Systems in the Judicial Process- Supreme Court Perspective” delivered at the 2015 ALL NIGERIAN JUDGES CONFERENCE, ABUJA on 25th November 2015.

She is a member of some notable clubs and Professional Associations, and has received several merit awards. She enjoys reading, music, information technology and counselling.

She is happily married with children.

Hon. Mr. Justice Chima Centus Nweze

About Chima Centus Nweze

Hon. Mr. Justice Chima Centus Nweze, a native of Obollo, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, was born on September 25, 1958. A practising Christian of the Roman Catholic Denomination, he is married to Hon Justice Ugonne Jacinta Nweze of the Enugu State Judiciary. Their union is blessed with five children and a grandchild.

ACADEMIC CAREER

He attended St John Cross Seminary, Nsukka, from 1972 -1977, emerging with a Distinction in the West African School Certificate Examination, [WASCE]. Between 1979 – 1983, he was an undergraduate student at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. In 1983, he represented the Faculty of Law, and indeed, all Nigerian Law Faculties, at the Phillip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Washington DC, as the Chief Oralist. Upon his graduation in 1983, [LL. B. (Hons) (Nig.)], he proceeded to the Nigeria Law School, from 1983 – 1984, where he obtained the qualifying Certificate, [BL]. He did his NYSC between 1984 – 1985 in Bauchi.

Subsequently, he returned to the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, between 1993 – 1995, where he studied for, and obtained, the Master of Laws Certificate, [LL. M]. Between 1997 – 2001, he studied for, and achieved, the Doctorate Degree [Ph. D.] of the same university, the University of Nigeria.

JUDICIAL CAREER

Having practised at the private Bar from 1985 – 1995, he was elevated to the High Court Bench of Enugu State in November, 1995. While on the High Court Bench, he served as Chairman, Second Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Enugu State, 1996 -1998; Chairman, Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Nsukka, 1998 -1999; Member, Ondo State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal, 1999; Chairman, Ogun State Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Petition Tribunal, 1999; Administrative Judge, Nsukka Judicial Division, Enugu State, 2001. He was appointed a Justice of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, February 15, 2008; and served thereat until October, 2014, when he was, finally, elevated to Nigeria’s apex court as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, October 29, 2014. He has been on the Bench of the Supreme Court from October, 2014 – Date.

ADHOC AND VOCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Hon Justice Chima Centus Nweze has served in various capacities in extra-judicial vocational activities. These include: Member, DFID Access to Justice Programme, Enugu State, 2003; Member, National Working Group on the Reform of Criminal Justice Administration, 2004 [the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, is the brainchild of this group]; Team Member, Enugu State Sector Strategic Plan, 2004; PATHS-DFID Hon Consultant, District Health System Law/Regulations, 2004; Member, OSIWARD C Expert Consultative Forum on Federal Budget Act and Facilitator, Enugu State Justice Sector Reform Team.

A former Convenor/Co-coordinator, LL. M (International Human Rights Programme), and Visiting Human Rights Scholar, Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, 2000 -2008; Justice Nweze, who was a Distinguished Scholar, Pro Bono, Faculty of Law, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Enugu, was formerly, a Visiting Associate Professor of Law, Faculty of Law, Ebonyi State University and Member, International Advisory Board, Annual Survey of International & Comparative Law (Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco, USA).

Hon. Mr. Justice Amina Adamu Augie CON

About Amina Adamu Augie CON

Hon. Mr. Justice Amina Adamu Augie was born Anne Eva Graham on the 3rd day of September, 1953. She is from Kebbi State, in the North-Western part of Nigeria. She attended Abadina School, University College Ibadan from 1958 – 1960. Hope Waddell Primary School, Calabar from 1960 – 1962. Holy Rosary Primary School, Enugu from 1966 – 1967. Queen Amina College, Kaduna from 1968 – 1971. University of Ife, Ile-Ife from 1972 – 1977. Nigerian Law School, Lagos from 1977 – 1978. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1980 – 1981. University of Lagos from 1986 – 1987. She was called to the Nigerian Bar on 8th July, 1978.

Hon. Justice A. A. Augie began her legal career as a Legal Aid Counsel at the Legal Aid Council, Sokoto while serving in the National Youth Service Corps from 1978 – 1979. She rose to become the Head of Department of Legal Aid Council, Sokoto State. From 1980 – 1982, she had a stint with the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as an Assistant Lecturer. From 1982 – 1984, she served as a Senior State Counsel in the Office of the Chief Counsel to the then President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, after which, she was appointed Lecturer by the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

In 1988, Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Augie was appointed Chief Magistrate in the Sokoto State Judiciary. While serving at the Bench, her love and passion for the academia propelled her to accept a part-time employment as Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto from 1989 – 1992. She also served as an Associate Lecturer in the same University from September 1999 – September 2002. Hon. Justice Augie was elevated to the Court of Appeal Bench in 2002. While at the Appellate Court, she served in various Divisions and rose to become Presiding Justice, Benin Division from July 2009 – September 2010; Presiding Justice, Enugu Division from September 2010 – September 2011; Presiding Justice, Kaduna Division from September 2011 – September 2012; Presiding Justice, Lagos Division from September 2012 – November 2016.

Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Augie was elevated as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 7th of November, 2016.

ADHOC DUTIES

Appointed Chairman, Recovery of Public Properties Tribunal, Sokoto State from 1995 – 1996. Chairman, Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Tribunal, Lagos from March 1996 – May 29th, 1999. Chairman, National Assembly, Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Tribunal from 2000 – 2002. Chairman, Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Nigerdock from September 2001 – July 2002. Other National assignments she has participated include: Member, National Swimming Team, 1973 – 1976; Federal Government Delegate, United Nations Decade for Women Conference, Nairobi, Kenya, July 1985; Member, National Committee on Prisons Reforms, 1992; International Director, National Association of Women Judges, 1997 – 2000; Member, National Working Group on Juvenile Justice Administration, July 2002; Chairman, Experts Consultative Meeting – Passage of Child Rights Bill, March 2003; Member, National Child Rights Implementation Committee, September 2003; Chairman, National Facilitators of the Child Rights Act, April 2004; Member, Board of Trustees, Human Development Initiatives (HDI) and Child Rights Education Centre, 2007 to date; Member, Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Board, 2007 – 2016; Member, Board of Directors, Institute of Human Rights and Development in Africa, Banjul, The Gambia, 2008 – 2014.

Hon. Justice Augie has attended and participated in several Workshops, Seminars and Conferences locally and internationally. She has presented over 75 Papers in Nigeria, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ethiopia and Ghana. She is a prolific writer and has to her credit 15 Publications in various Books and Seminar/Workshop Publications. She has attended various Workshops, Seminars and Conferences namely: The 4th Biennial International Conference of International Association of Women Judges, Ottawa, Canada, May 1998; Judicial Colloquium on the Application of International Human Rights Law at the Domestic Level, Vienna, Austria, October 1999; African Development Forum (ADF III and IV), Addis Ababa, March 2002 and October 2004; Judicial Colloquium on the Death Penalty, Lake Naivasha, Kenya, 2005; International Conference of International Association of Women Judges, Sydney, Australia, 2006 and Washington DC, USA, 2016.

Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Augie has won several awards and recognitions including Faculty Prize for Best Overall Student of University of Ife, 1977, Phoebe Chiadikobi Ajayi Prize for Best Female Student (Ife), 1977, Amicable Assurance Prize for Best Student (Ife), 1977. She has also received Merit Awards, from The Law Students’ Society, University of Ibadan, 2006, International Association of Women Judges (Africa Region), 2005, Federation of Muslim Women (FOMWAN), Edo State Chapter, 2005, National Association of Democratic Lawyers with the Ford Foundation, 2005, Nigerian Law School Graduating Class of 1988, 2003, Sokoto State Students, 2001, Gamji Club, Sokoto, 1992, Faculty of Law Students, Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto, 1991, Lagos State Judiciary, 2016, Kebbi State, 2016 and Court of Appeal, 2014.

In September, 2014, Hon. Justice Amina Augie was conferred with the prestigious National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration and a recipient of the honour Fellowship of Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, November 2016.

Hon. Justice Augie is blessed with four children.

Hon. Mr. Justice Ejembi Eko

About Ejembi Eko

Hon. Mr. Justice Ejembi Eko was born on the 23rd of May, 1952. He hails from Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. He attended Methodist Primary School, Ugboju-Icho from 1958 – 1962, Native Authority Primary School, Ugbokpo, Apa from 1963 – 1965, Wesley High School, Otukpo from 1966 – 1970, Government College, Keffi from 1971 – 1972, University of Ife, Ile-Ife from 1973 – 1976 and Nigerian Law School, Lagos from 1976 – 1977. He was called to the Nigerian Bar on 2nd July, 1977.

Hon. Justice Eko commenced his legal career in 1977 with the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice where he served under the National Youth Service scheme. From August 1978 – January 1980, he delved into private legal practice, starting as a Junior Counsel at Omakwu & Onyeke Chambers, Otukpo, Benue State. On the 1st of February, 1980, he began practice at his private law firm, Eko & Co, Otukpo as a Principal Counsel. From June 1982 – March 1987, he worked as a Senior Partner at Eko & Onum, Otukpo.

Hon. Justice Ejembi Eko was appointed first Director of Civil Litigation, Benue State Ministry of Justice in April 1987. He served in this capacity until he was appointed Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Benue State Ministry of Justice on the 1st of October, 1987. He was appointed Judge of the Benue State High Court on 9th February, 1989. He rose to become Acting Chief Judge of Benue State from November 2005 – February 2006. Hon. Justice Eko was appointed Justice of the Court of Appeal in December 2007. He joined the Court of Appeal Bench in February 2008 and served in various Divisions of the Court of Appeal before he was elevated to the Supreme Court Bench on the 7th of November, 2016.

ADHOC ASSIGNMENTS

Hon. Justice Ejembi Eko has served in various ad-hoc duties including: Coroner for Otukpo, Benue State, 1981 – 1987; Maiden Secretary, Benue Sate Law Reports, 1979 – 1987; Leader, Benue State Team (Legal) at the Obudu/Vandeikya Border Dispute Commission, 1987 – 1988; Chairman, Local Governments Election Tribunal – Bayelsa State, 1998; Chairman, Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Tribunal – Jigawa State, 1999; Chairman, Governorship and Legislative Houses Election Tribunal – Enugu State, 2003; Chairman, Benue State Local Government Election Appeal Tribunal, 2004 – 2007.

Hon. Justice Ejembi Eko attended several local and international Workshops, Seminars and Conferences. He is a prolific writer who has to his credit, the following publications:

The Law of Bail (See Amazon Books – amazon.co.uk; Google Books – booksgoogle.com; worldcat.org; Open Library – openlibrary.org.
Collection of Poems.
Several Seminar Papers presented at All Nigeria Judges Conferences, and National Judicial Institute.

Hon. Justice Ejembi Eko is married and blessed with seven children. His hobbies and interests cut across farming, gaming, reading and writing. His particular area of interest in Law is Human Rights Jurisprudence and Administrative law.

Hon. Mr. Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji

About Uwani Musa Abba Aji

Hon Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji (JSC) was born on the 7^th November 1956 in Gashua, Yobe State. She attended Central Primary School Gashua and Government Girls Secondary School Maiduguri for her Primary and Secondary Education between 1961 and 1972. She obtained a Diploma in Law from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1976 and subsequently, an L.L.B Hons from the same institution in 1980. She was called to Bar in 1981 and commenced her career as State Counsel in 1982. Prior to holding this position however, She had held positions of Clerical Assistant (Area Courts Division), Assistant Registrar, Acting Registrar and Higher Registrar between 1973 and 1982. After her appointment as State Counsel in 1982, she rose through various positions becoming an Acting Senior State Counsel in 1984, Senior Magistrate II in 1986, Senior Magistrate I in 1987, Chief Magistrate II in 1989, Chief Magistrate I in 1991 and Chief Registrar in November 1991. She was appointed Higher Court Judge of Yobe State Judiciary in December 1991 making her the first Lady Judge at Yobe State Judiciary, a position she held until July 2004 when she was elevated to the Court of Appeal.

His Lordship has over the years served as Secretary, Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Borno State Branch; Senior Magistrate in Charge of Mobile Traffic Court, Borno State; Chairman, Magistrate Association of Nigeria, Borno State Branch; Chairman, Potiskum Judicial Disturbances Commission of inquiry; Chairman, Damaturu/Potiskum Judicial Commission of Inquiry; Amairah, Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN); President, National Association of Women Judges (NAWJN), National Legal Adviser of FOMWAN and Chairperson, Justices Welfare Committee of the Court of Appeal. She had also served in various election petition tribunals in addition to being a designated ICPC Anticorruption Judge between 2001 and 2014 and a Life bencher in 2018. His Lordship hat attended various Seminars and Conferences both nationally and internationally and has also presented several papers in various workshops. She has also received various commendations during the course of her career.

Before her elevation to the Supreme Court on January 8^th 2019, His Lordship was the Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal Kaduna Division, a position she held for 4 years. She is happily married with three children and enjoys reading, writing and gardening. She has also travelled far and wide to almost all the continents in the world.