By: Akilu Saadu
On Friday, 1st February 2025, after rigorous screening and examination exercise, the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria faculty of law inaugurated the members of the judicial and parliamentary members of the newly-established law students society (LSS, ABU)
The inauguration formed part of the tradition of the faculty at the inception of every academic session for the smooth conduct of legal proceedings in the distinct court in the institution.
Interestinly, for the first time in the historical books of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria faculty of law, a female was announced as Chief Justice of the ABU. The entire students were dumbfounded by this unprecedented revolution which struck the grounded structure of the ABU judicial system .
Nazeerat Ogoshi, a distinguished female advocate was sworn in as the first female chief justice of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria judiciary by Dr. Umar Sani Bebeji in the moot court of the institution.
Since the establishment of the students judicial body in 2001 there has never been a female chief justice pasted on the wall of the court- room. By Allah’s will, the Ogoshi’s robed portrait will be pasted on the “judicial wall” as the chief justice.T he first ever in the well-documented history of this faculty!
This phenomenal move from its perennial practice is a testament to the resoluteness and readiness of the management in maintaining dignity, viability and standardized legal practice in the faculty.
Nazeerat Ogoshi who penetrated through the judicial cult of ABU by emerging as the 16th Chief Justice of this great faculty, replicate Mrs. Aloma Mukhtar (JSC) the first female Chief Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who was appointed by the then president of Nigeria , Goodluck Jonathan .
Admiringly, this happened when the university has achieved an international recognition as the first public university in Nigeria at same time , the faculty of law was ranked as the first faculty of law in Nigeria .
In addition, the new chief justice of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria is a life partner of Great Precision Chambers and demonstrated a high sense of admiration and appreciation of law and the intricacies of legal practice , judicial reasoning and legal analysis and has immensely contributed toward the development of the chambers through mentorship and guardianship . She is a lifetime mentor whose legal dexterity and confidence shone throughout her stay as a senior counsel of the Ahmadu Bello University Bar .
As the Chief Justice of the ABU supreme court she is the replica of honourable Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, and her court has the last say in all matters before any court within the ABU judiciary.
Indeed, the appointment of Nazeerat is an excellent recognition of her capacity , legal wisdom, determination and relentlessness in nurturing young advocates within and outside the faculty of law.
Subsequently, the inauguration of female today as the chief justice of ABU is a signal to all other female law students within Faculty that faculty is not patriarchal domain.
It maintain balance and appreciate the contribution of every gender so long as a person has the mental capacity to bring the needful development. Ogoshi opened the door and posterity will learn about this iron lady whose destiny replicates that of justice aloma mukhtar in the Nigerian judiciary.
Congratulations, Mi Lord.