By Gideon Njoku
On Monday, February 26, 2024, the Honourable Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme, PhD, and ten other Supreme Court Justice-designates, will be sworn-in as Supreme Court Justices in Abuja. Venue is the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja, and to preside is the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, the Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Nwosu-Iheme, popular among her very few friends as “Madam Justice”, a name, ironically, fondly given to her by gunmen who kidnapped her in Benin on October 30, 2019 in the line of duty. Awed by her carriage, calm demeanor and courage, in the face of a thin line between life and death, they, in reverence, as soon as they realized, 24 hours later, from the Media, who she is, began to address her as “Madam Justice.”
Nwosu-Iheme, at the time of her abduction, was the Presiding Judge of the Court of Appeal, Benin Division, and was on her way to Owerri when she was abducted within Benin City.
To be sworn-in alongside Justice Nwosu-Iheme are:
*Hon. Justice Jummai Hannatu Sankey, OFR.
*Hon. Justice Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa.
*Hon. Justice Moore Asimov’s Adumein.
*Hon. Justice Obande Festus Ogbuinya.
*Hon. Justice Stephen Adah.
*Hon. Justice Habeeb Adewale Abiru.
*Hon. Justice Jamalu Yammama Tukur.
*Hon. Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar.
*Hon. Justice Mohammed Baba Idris.
They were recommended to President Bola Tinubu for elevation to the Supreme Court by the National Judicial Council, NJC, during its 104th Meeting on December 6, 2023 where it considered the list of Candidates presented by its interview Committee.
Born on 2, February 1959, Nwosu-Iheme is the first and only female Judge in Nigeria to earn a PhD. She is, also, the second female Judge from Imo State to be appointed to the Supreme Court. The first was the Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili, now retired, who is married to the former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili.
Nwosu-Iheme, noted for her courage and no-nonsense attitude, was appointed a Judge of the Imo State High Court in 1995. In 2008, she was elevated to the Court of Appeal.
She is married to Chief Uzoma Nwosu-Iheme, a very successful businessman and entrepreneur, who, in his younger years, was a Commissioner in the Imo State Government.
The couple is blessed with very successful children and lovely grandchildren.
When the 11 Supreme Court Justice-designates are sworn in on Monday, the Supreme Court of Nigeria will, for the first time in as many years, have its full compliment of 21 Justices.
For now, it has only 10 Justices who are over-burdened by all sorts of cases.
