The senate has confirmed the appointment of Nigeria’s first female Chief Justice, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar.
Senate President David Mark expressed optimism that “Justice Mukhtar will be able to improve the public perception of the judiciary and also to ensure that there is steady dispensation of justice.”
“We can only pray that Hon Mukhtar will improve on the condition in which she found the judiciary at the moment. We will work together with the judiciary and the executive arm of government to ensure that there is justice, equity, and fairness and there is progress and discipline in the country.”
Justice Mukhtar had during the screening promised to reposition the judiciary and deal with the “bad eggs giving the judiciary a negative image” in order to gain the trust of Nigerians.
Justice Mukhtar also has the distinction of being the first female to be appointed Justice of the Supreme Court in 2005 and the first female to be appointed as a judge in the Court of Appeal in 1987. She as called to the English bar in 1967 and to the Nigerian bar a year later.
Aloma Mukhtar replaces Dahiru Mustapher, who will retire on July 15, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 70