By Eric Elezuo
Speaking at the valedictory ceremony of Justice Mary Odili, as she bows out of service after years of meritorious and extraordinary service, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad described her as an epitome of jurisprudential finesse, an insuperable lioness with an irrepressible voice in the temple of Justice amid showers of encomiums. She entered the revered history books of the country’s judiciary as the third woman to rise up to the apex court in the land and held sway in the discharge of her judicial functions. This is without stain or scandal. She was an amazon of jurisprudence.
Justice Odili reached the apex of her judicial career when in 2011, she was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice Katsina-Alu. She had previously served meritoriously as the First Lady of Rivers State between 1999 and 2007.
Born on May 12, 1952, Justice Mary Ukaego Odili CFR, who few days ago bowed out of service, bestrode the justice system like a colossus, fearlessly engaging in acts that portrayed the law and Nigerian justice system in the positive light.
She was born in Amudi Obizi, Ezinihitte-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State as the second daughter of Eze Bernard Nzenwa and Ugoeze Bernadette Nzenwa. Her father Eze Nzenwa worked as a lawyer in the United Kingdom in 1959 before he was made Secretary of the Nigeria Airways. The woman, who later became the wife of one of the most powerful men in Rivers State during his time, Mr. Peter Odili, attended a number of primary schools as a child including St Benedict’s Primary School, Obizi Ezinitte, St Michael’s Primary School, Umuahia, St Agnes Primary School, Maryland and Our Lady of Apostles Primary School, Yaba, from where she passed to briefly attend Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School.
With the outbreak of the civil war in 1967, Justice Odili relocated to the southeast with her parents, and continued her education at Owerri Girls High School before her family moved back to their village in Mbaise. She then attended Mbaise Girls Secondary School and later enrolled at the Queen of the Rosary College in Onitsha.
In 1972, she passed with Grade I (aggregate 6), as it was then referred, in the West African School Certificate Examination, and gained admission into the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus where she read law in the same year.
As a result of her brilliance and hard work, she was awarded a scholarship in her second year in the university. This, according to the authorities, was for maintaining the second class upper division league with higher scores. While in the university, she met Peter Odili, a medical doctor, who later became her husband, at a campus party and the two immediately struck a romantic cord.
In 1976, she graduated with an LLB (Hons) and was rated the best student of the Department of Commercial and Property Law. Shortly after, she attended the Nigerian Law School and received her B.L. certificate in 1977, before embarking on her youth service to Benin City and Abeokuta.
Shortly after her youth service year, Justice Odili commenced her career in the judiciary, beginning as a Magistrate grade III officer in November 1978.
However, in 1979, she solemnised her relationship with Dr Odili in holy matrimony, and had her first child Adaeze, in the same year. She therefore, had to move with her family to Port Harcourt, where her husband founded his medical centre Pamo Clinics.
Between 1980 and 1988, Justice Odili moved in calibre and positions, serving as Chief Magistrate Grade I; Chairman of the Juvenile Court; President, Marine Board of Inquiry into the 1979 Buguma Boat disaster; chairman, Constitution Drafting Committee of the University of Nigeria Alumni Associates; Inaugural Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Rivers State and Secretary, Nigerian Horticultural Society.
As a pillar of support, she was there when her husband ventured into politics and served as member and leader of Rivers State Delegates to the Constituent Assembly. In 1992, while she was a High Court Judge, her husband was serving as the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, and in 1999, when he was elected as governor, Justice Odili became the First Lady of Rivers State.
She had also held the offices of Justice, Court of Appeal, Abuja Division and Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division.
On 3 May 2011, when President Jonathan nominated her with two other Appeal Court Justices to the Supreme Court, she represented the South East geo-political zone on the bench.
Before Justice Odili was made a Supreme Court of Nigeria Justice, she had functioned in numerous important positions, including Judge, High Court of Rivers State (1992–2004), Justice, Court of Appeal, Abuja Division (2004–2010), and Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division (2010–2011).
Among her many landmark and indelible representations in the Supreme Court, she was the leader of the Five Person Panel that nullified the Gubernatorial Election of Bayelsa State elected governor, David Lyon, after his deputy was found wanting for submitting fake certificates during pre-election screening.
Justice is blessed with the husband of her youth, Peter Odili, and they have four gracious children.
We, at The Boss, wish you the best as you retire into comfort and peace of mind.
