By JUMI RHODES
Not many know that some of Nigeria’s popular politicians and businessmen are married to female judges who serve in various courts including the Supreme Court. Below, Dawn-To-Dusk News profiles these women of honour.
HON. JUSTICE MARY PETER-ODILI
A Supreme Court of Nigeria judge, Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili is the wife of former Rivers State governor, Sir Peter Odili. Before her appointment as a Supreme Court judge, she was a judge at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, and before then a judge at the High Court of Rivers State.
HON. JUSTICE FATI ABUBAKAR
Hon. Justice Fati Abubakar is the wife of former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar(retd.). The University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University)-trained graduate is the first female Chief Judge of Niger State.
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HON. JUSTICE EBERECHI NYESOM-WIKE
Hon. Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, a Rivers State High Court judge, is married to Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State Governor. The Rivers State University of Science and Techonology and University of Sussex-trained graduate’s last appointment was as Chief Magistrate Grade II in 2009.
HON. JUSTICE (DR.) CHIOMA NWOSU-IHEME
A judge of the Federal Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice (Dr.) Chioma Nwosu-Iheme is the first female judge in Nigeria to read Law up to Ph.D level in the field of ‘Law of Intellectual Property’. She is married to Chief Uzoma Nwosu-Iheme, a former Commissioner for Public Utilities and Rural Development, and Commissioner for Education in Imo State. The Nwosu-Ihemes are in-laws to Sir and Hon. Justice Peter Odili as one of their twin sons, Uzoma is married to Njideka Odili.
HON. JUSTICE MARYANN ANENIH
Hon. Justice Maryann Anenih is married to Chief ‘Tony Anenih(Mr. Fix-It), the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT). She is a judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
HON. JUSTICE BINTA MURTALA-NYAKO
Hon. Justice Binta Nyako is the wife of former Adamawa State Governor, Rear Admiral Murtala Nyako(retd.).
HON. JUSTICE JUMOKE PEDRO
A judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Jumoke Pedro is the wife of banker-turned-politician, Mr. Femi Pedro, former Lagos State Deputy Governor.
HON. JUSTICE OLUWATOYIN TAIWO
Also a judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo is married to a foremost legal practitioner, Mr. Taiwo Taiwo. Before her appointment as a high court judge in 2004, she was Chief Registrar.
HON. JUSTICE BOSEDE HAASTRUP
Having joined the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja in 2002 as Senior Registrar I, she rose through the ranks to become a Chief Registrar in 2009 till she was appointed a judge. She is married to Osun State-born medical practitioner Chief (Dr.) Adetayo Haastrup.
HON. JUSTICE RACHAEL AKINTOLA
She is the wife of Chief Adeniyi Akintola(SAN). Hon. Justice Rachel Akintola is a judge at the Oyo State High Court.
HON. JUSTICE HARRIBA DAGOGO-JACK
A judge of the Rivers State High Court, Hon. Justice Harriba Judith Dagogo-Jack is the wife of Engr. Reynolds Beks Dagogo-Jack, the former chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) and former Commissioner for Works and Transport in Rivers State.
HON JUSTICE KUDIRAT KEKERE-EKUN
Also a justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the University of Lagos and London School of Economic and Political Science-trained graduate is married to Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, a distinguished retired banker; onetime Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Habib Nigeria Bank Limited.
HON. JUSTICE ADEDAYO OYEBANJI
The Lagos State High Court judge is married to Mr. Tunji Oyebanji, the Chairman/Managing Director of Mobil Oil Nigeria.
