Maryam Aloma Mukhtar: Nigeria's first female Chief Justice

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, sworn in Justice Aloma Mukhtar, as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Jonathan, in a speech at the swearing in ceremony, urged Justice Muktar to mull and act on the establishment of special courts for terrorism, corruption cases.

Muktar is the first female justice to be sworn into the position. However, this is not the first time the Kano-born lawyer is setting the pace for women in the country as Justice Muktar was the first female Northerner to become a lawyer.

As she grew in her career, Muktar, would become the first woman to be appointed a justice of the Court of Appeal and, later, the first female justice of the Court of Appeal to make it to the Supreme Court.

Her appointment, after the Senate clearance, make her the 13th head of the nation’s judiciary since the appointment of Chief Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, the first CJN, who held the post from 1958–1972.

It will be recalled that Jonathan, in a letter dated July 3, and read on the floor of the Senate Wednesday by Senate President David Mark, sought the senators’ approval to make Mukhtar Musdapher’s successor.

“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 Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, CON, CFR, for confirmation as Chief Justice of Nigeria," the letter reads in part.

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

Source BusinessDay