Kano makes history as first female Chief Judge takes Oath of Office
Justice Dije Abdu Aboki has taken the oath of office to become the first ever female to be appointed a substantive Chief Judge of Kano State.
Justice Aboki was appointed as acting CJ on March 9 by former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje following the retirement of erstwhile Justice Nura Sair.
The Kano House of Assembly confirmed the appointment of Justice Aboki as the chief judge of the state on July 6 following a letter sent to the legaislatures by the incumbent governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Following this, Justice Aboki was sworn in on Monday as the first female substantive chief judge of the state at a ceremony at the Africa House of Kano State Government House.
She promised among other things to enhance justice delivery and ensure justice becomes accessible to all irrespective of their social and other classes.
Also speaking, Governor Yusuf appealed to Justice Aboki to see the executive and legislature as partners and not competitors with the judiciary.
He also appealed to her to lead a judiciary that will support the government’s efforts in restoring the Kano Urban Development Masterplan, which he alleged had been basteredised by previous administration.
He said it was unfathomable that judges would be granting restraining order against the government in its effort to recover property and restore them to their original status including courts building earlier demolished and awarded for construction of business plazas.
Also speaking, the immediate past Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), eulogized the first female CJ, describing her as a no nonsense woman, who had made a name for herself in the legal and judicial profession where she was well known for her discipline, commitment and passion for justice.
10 things to know about Justice Dije Aboki
1. Chief Justice Dije Aboki was born July 10, 1964, in Kano.
2. She is the wife of Hon. Justice Abdu Aboki, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and mother to five children (three of them lawyers).
3. She attended Tudun Wada Primary School, Kano between 1969 and 1973.
4. The 59-year-old proceeded to Government Girls College Minna, Niger, from 1973 to 1978 for her secondary education.
5. Justice Aboki graduated from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, in 1983 (LLB. Hons).
6. She did her NYSC at Bayero University Kano (1984 – 1985).7. Justice Aboki was called to the bar in 1984.
8. She began her career as state counsel in 1985 under the state Ministry of Justice.
9. A year later, she was appointed Magistrate and rose to become a High Court judge in 2006.
10. The Kano Chief Judge is a member of several associations including: Magistrate Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Chairperson, Kano Chapter 1990 – 1992, among others.
Share your thoughts on the story Kano makes history as first female Chief Judge takes Oath of Office with NigerianSketch in the comments section below.
