In commemoration of the 2023 International Day of Female Judges, IFJ, themed ‘Women in Justice, Women for Justice’, Sunday Ehigiator chronicles the female Justices currently serving at Nigeria’s Supreme Court of Justice, as well as those serving at various Federal High Courts in different states
The International Day of Women Judges (IFJ) is usually celebrated on March 10 each year to promote equal and complete participation of women at different levels of the judiciary.
It was celebrated for the first time on March 10, 2022, in under the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 75/274 of 2021.
The establishment of the day marks an important milestone in the global efforts to ensure gender equality and builds upon the ongoing efforts of the Global Judicial Integrity Network (GJIN) in addressing gender-related judicial integrity issues.
Female Judges of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
1. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun
Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, born on May 7, 1958, earned her LL.B from the University of Lagos in 1980 and her LL.M from the London School of Economics and Political Science in November 1983.
She was admitted to the Nigerian bar in July 1981 and appointed to the Lagos State Judiciary as a Senior Magistrate Grade II in December 1989. She was appointed to the High Court of Lagos State in July 1996. She was appointed to the Court of Appeal eight years later.
Between 2011 and 2013, Justice Kekere-Ekun served on the Court of Appeal’s ICT Committee before being appointed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria on June 8, 2013.
READ MORE: See the Judges of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (Updated list)
2. Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji
Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji was born in November 1956 in Gashua, Gombe State, and received a Diploma in Law from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 1976, followed by an LL.B Hons from the same university in 1980. She was admitted to the bar in 1981 and began working as a State Counsel in 1982.
She progressed through the ranks after being appointed as State Counsel in 1982, becoming 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. In December 1991, she was appointed Higher Court Judge of the Yobe State Judiciary, making her the first lady judge in the Yobe State Judiciary.
Before her elevation to the Supreme Court in January 2019, she was the presiding Justice, the Court of Appeal Kaduna Division, a position she held for four years. She is happily married with three children.
3. Justice Helen Morenikeji Ogunwumiju
Helen Morenikeji Ogunwumiju was born in Ondo State in March 1957. She graduated from the University of Lagos in 1977 and was admitted to the Nigerian bar in 1978.
She was appointed Chief Magistrate Grade 1 in Oyo State in 1991 and later served as Chief Magistrate in Ibadan, Ile-Ife, Eruwa, Igboora, and Oyo Magisterial Districts.
Justice Ogunwumiju was appointed to the High Court of Ondo State in 1998, having jurisdiction in civil and criminal issues, and was promoted to the Nigerian Court of Appeal in November 2005.
She was promoted to the Supreme Court in November 2022 after serving as presiding justice in the Court of Appeal’s Benin and Enugu Divisions since 2013.
4. Justice 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, among others, Nigerian Law School, Lagos from 1977 – 1978, and was called to Bar on July 8, 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 the Department of Legal Aid Council, Sokoto State. From 1980 – 1982, she had a stint with 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. She 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, of the Benin Division from July 2009 – September 2010; Presiding Justice, of the Enugu Division from September 2010 – September 2011; Presiding Justice, of the 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 November 7, 2016.
Female High Court Justices
There are a total of 74 Honourable Judges at the Federal High Court of Nigeria. Only 25 of this number, representing just 34 percent, are female.
They include Justice Hajiya Binta Nyako currently serving at Abuja High Court; Justice Ajoku Patricia Iroawuchi, serving at Port-Harcourt; Justice Okeke, Anulika Agatha, currently serving in Ibadan; Justice Zainab Bage Abubakar, currently serving in Abuja; Justice Adaobi Onyetenu, currently serving in Akure; Justice Dorcas Venenge Agishi, currently serving in Jos.
Justice Folashade Adesiyan, currently serving in Asaba; Justice Ojukwu Ijeoma Lucia, currently serving in Calabar; Justice Oguntoyinbo Oluremi Omowunmi, currently serving in Abeokuta; Justice Phoebe Msuean Ayua, currently serving in Port-Harcourt; Justice Uche Nma Agomoh, currently serving in Ibadan; Justice Folashade Olubunmi Ogunbanjo, currently serving in Enugu.
Justice Evelyn Anyadike, currently serving in Umuahia; Justice Yellim Bogoro, currently serving in Lagos State; Justice Rosemary Dugbo Oghoghorie, currently serving in Calabar; Justice Jane Egienanwan Inyang, currently serving in Asaba; Justice Justice Hadiza Rabiu, currently serving in Kaduna; Justice Joyce Obehi, currently serving in Abeokuta; Justice Fadima Murtala Aminu, currently serving in Damaturu.
Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke, currently serving in Minna; Justice Nehizena Afolabi, currently serving in Lafia; Justice Adefunmilayo Adekemi Demi–Ajayi, currently serving in Akure; Justice Sa’adatu Ibrahim Mark, currently serving in Port-Harcourt; Justice Mobolaji Olubukola Olajuwon, currently serving in Abuja; Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha, currently serving in Abuja; and Justice Awogboro Abimbola Olawunmi, currently serving in Lagos.
