By Jonathan Ugbal
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu and Justice Rosemary Dugbo have been assigned Courts 1 and 2 respectively in the Calabar division of the Federal High Court.
Both are replacing Justice Sule Shuaibu and Justice Simon Amobeda who have been reassigned to the Benin and Maiduguri divisions of the Court respectively.
They are to resume sitting in Calabar on April 12, 2021, a document signed by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho and dated March 16, 2021 read.
Here is what we know about the Judges.
Justice Ijeoma Lucia Ojukwu
Credit: FHC
Born on December 14, 1966 in Kaduna State, Justice Ojukwu popular for her handling of the case of Omoyele Sowore, a Nigerian Journalist and Convener of #RevolutionNow and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, presided over Court 5 in the Abuja division of the Court.
She hails from Akuma in Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State and is married to Professor Ernest Ojukwu, SAN who is a native of Isuikwuato in Abia State. She was called to the bar in 1990 and holds a Masters at Law (LLM) degree.
Her journey on the Bench began with her appointment as a Senior Magistrate Grade II in the A State Judiciary in June 1996 where she served through the ranks till in January 2006 when she was appointed Chief Magistrate Grade I.
Months later in November 2006, she was appointed the Deputy Chief Registrar,in charge of Magistrate/Special Duties at the High Court of Justice, Umuahia where she served until she was sworn in as a Judge of the Federal High Court on June 22, 2009.
She will sit as the administrative Judge in the Calabar division, replacing Justice Sule Shuaibu.
Justice Rosemary Onome Dugbo-Oghoghorie
Credit:FHC
Born on new year’s day in Bom, Justice Dugbo is a native of Udu in Delta State and until her posting to the Calabar division, served at the Enugu division.
Called to the bar in 1986, she has two Master degrees. Business Law MA obtained in 1989 and a Masters in Commercial Law (LL.M) obtained in 2009.
She was in private practice with different forms until 2001 when she was employed as Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court. She was later elevated to the rank of Chief Registrar in 2012 and served in that capacity until she was sworn in as a Judge December 2, 2015.
She replaces Justice Amobeda who is famous for a leaked audio tape wherein he made assertions that were interpreted by many as a direct threat on the life of Agba Jalingo, a Nigerian Journalist facing trial for alleged acts of treason and terrorism, as well as ordering that the prosecution in the case, mask all of it’s witnesses.
NB: 17/2/2021 2:33AM – A correction has been made in Paragraph six to reflect the actual origin of Justice IL Ojukwu.