The administration of justice as well as the nations judicial institutions have no doubt had its own fair share of controversies, commendations and intense media and public scrutiny in line with the well worn aphorism that justice must not only be done but must be also seen to be done. Because no matter which way a jurist rules, he or she can not satisfy all parties to a suit, in fact in some instances, those that judgments favour are even dissatisfied with the breadth and depth of the said judgement.
Therefore, the scenario can be likened to the dilemma faced by a hunter that was told by a forest ghost that if you dance, you are doomed, if you dont dance, you are also doomed!
However, despite the controversies that loom over certain judicial pronouncements, the vast majority of right thinking citizenry have immeasurable trust and confidence in the nations judicial system particularly the apex courts, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria were justice is administered in strict adherence to the tenets of equity, due process and the rule of law.
No matter the personality of a plaintiff, defendant, an amicus curiae or the general public, their verdict largely remains the same; indeed the apex courts of the land have remained steadfast and consonant with the constitution and the extant laws and statutes of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, no more, no less. In this regard, one of the foremost jurists, constitutional avatars and legal titans that the nation has produced is no other eminent personality than her Lordship, Justice Mary Ukaego Odili, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who rose to the nations apex court in June 2011 after more than 37 epoch marking years at the bench beginning with her appointment as a judge of the Rivers State High Court in 1992. During her tenure in the Rivers judiciary, the erudite Justice Mary Odili displayed a reassuring penchant for straight forward legal and judicial constitution; interpreting the law accurately and appropriately while delivering judgements resoundingly and decisively without caring whose ox was gored in the process.
Indeed some likened Justice Mary Odili to then British Prime Minister Magaret Thatcher for her resolute, principled, consistent and clear headed approach to controversial or contentious issues, cases or suits. Those influential politicians or power brokers that sought her attention in order to sway her line of judgement were in for an unpleasant surprise as Justice Mary Odili firmly rebuffed all such untoward entreaties and in numerous cases, had such litigants and their wayward lawyers alike docked for contempt of court or handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies to be prosecuted for brazen interference or attempt to subvert the course of justice. Indeed Justice Mary Odili landmark judgments were cited in numerous lower and co-ordinate courts of jurisdiction by eminent legal luminaries for their brevity, lucidity and sagacity and soon became judicial precedents that stood the test of time.
Despite her firm and uncompromising approach to the judicial process, Mary Odili showed her accommodating, tolerant and benevolent disposition during her much beloved tenure as First Lady of Rivers State (1999- 2007), a period that many described as the golden days of the Treasure Base state were she led the successful empowerment of hundreds of thousands of Rivers state women, widows, orphans, the indigent and the physically challenged by enthroning numerous skills acquisition schemes that trained countless beneficiaries in various occupations, professions and artisan trades in order to boost their income generating and self sufficiency profiles thus ensuring their relevance and utility to the larger society.
Indeed the generosity and compassion of the first First Lady of the new Rivers state (without the Bayelsa axis) was uncommon and legendary as she was able to make a case for thousands of Rivers state’s indigenous contractors to be afforded the opportunity of participating in the execution of state contracts, previously dominated by expatriates and non-indigenes. Indeed the First Lady believed that only by economically empowering the small and medium scale entrepreneurs, traders and contractors that the progress and prosperity of River state could be assured.
Another crucial sector that First Lady Mary Odili paid particular attention was education as through her charitable organizations, financial assistance in form of scholarships, payments for JAMB, NECO and WAEC fees for students and youths ensured that many children from less privileged homes were able to obtain formal education.
Undoubtedly, her judicial mettle and iron-clod integrity has stood Justice Mary Odili in good stead to steadily climb the judicial ladder from High Court judge to Justice of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, (2004-2010) then presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Kaduna division (2010-2011) before her historic elevation to the supreme court in 2011.
Throughout her academic, professional and judicial career either as a judge, versatile lawyer in the United Kingdom, dedicated Secretary at the Nigerian Airways or as eminent justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Odili has held steadfast and consistently to her faith in the Almighty God and her abiding conviction that all men and women must be treated equitably and fairly while the weak and the down trodden must be protected against the mighty and powerful utilizing the salient laws of the land. This is her mission, vision and conviction in life. To God be the glory.
Comrade Asadu is of Reporters for Accountable Governement
