Jonathan nominates the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria

President Goodluck Jonathan made history by formally nominating the most senior justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Alooma Mariam Mukhtar, as first female chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) and presented her name to the Senate for confirmation.

Justice Alooma Mariam Mukhtar  is expected to replace the outgoing CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, who retires on July 15.

If confirmed by the Senate, Justice Mukhtar would break record of being the first female in Nigeria to occupy the highest judicial position since independence in 1960.

The Senate president, David Mark, read the president letter at the plenary, yesterday, Jonathan said “her nomination is in conformity with Section 231 Sub-section (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

The letter read part: “In conformity with Section 231, Sub-section (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended which gives the president powers to appoint a Chief Justice of Nigeria, acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to confirmation of the appointment by the Senate, I have the honour to forward the nomination of Honourable Justice Alooma Mariam Mukhtar, CON, CFR, for confirmation as Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“It is my hope that this request will receive the usual expeditious attention of the Distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

In the same vein, Jonathan, also forwarded to the Senate the nominations of justices Kumai Bayang Akaahs (north-west zone) and Stanley Shenko Alagoa (south-south zone) as justices of the Supreme Court.

In a letter also read by Mark, Jonathan said both “appointments have been necessitated by the impending retirement from service of Justice Dahiru Musdapher, Chief Justice of Nigeria, and Justice Francis Tabai”.

Prominent lawyers and retired judges have lauded the nomination of Mukhtar. They include former justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Kayode Eso, chairman of the Census Tribunal, Justice Ifeyinwa Obegolu, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), Barr. Chigozie Ezekiel,  Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) and Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).