Justice Mary Odili Retired, But Not Tired

Two years after her retirement, Justice Mary Odili’s influence continues to reverberate through the halls of justice, leaving an indelible mark on a profession she dedicated her life to. As she marks her 72nd birthday today, Vanessa Obioha reports on the various positions she has assumed since she bade farewell to the bench

Today, May 12, marks another significant chapter in the life of retired Justice Mary Odili as she clocks 72. As one of the revered justices in Nigeria, encomiums will pour, extolling her contributions to the profession she dedicated her life to.

Despite leaving the profession two years ago, Justice Odili’s influence still continues to reverberate through the halls of justice. This was glimpsed recently when she concluded her one-year tenure as Chairman of the Body of Benchers and was honoured by the legal community. Appointed to lead the body in April 2023, merely a year after her retirement in 2022, her continued impact and leadership remain evident.

The well-heeled gathering, which was held in Abuja had the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon Justice Olukayode Oriwoola, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, President of the Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, and the incoming Chairman of Body of Benchers, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN, among others in attendance. There, the retired justice was exceptionally lauded for her competence and diligence in discharging her duties. 

CJN particularly praised her untiring efforts to elevate the integrity bar of the legal profession.

“Your tenure as the Chairman of this August Body witnessed many remarkable achievements geared towards the development of the legal profession. Your passion and service to the Body of Benchers cannot be over-emphasised nor downplayed as you have boldly written your name in gold in the annals of this August Body.”

Reflecting on her illustrious career trajectory, Governor Fubara hailed her diligence, attributing her success to a steadfast dedication to duty.

“Hon Justice Mary Odili rose from the ranks up to the High Court and from there she was promoted to the Court of Appeal and finally to the Supreme Court,” he said. “Those are lines of diligent work and commitment to duty. You also saw the documentary that was shown. So, when it comes to her life as a judicial officer, the records are there and it is only a good product that can beget a good product, noting that this is the reason why she is excellent in what she is giving out.”

Similar encomiums came from other attendees like the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma who was represented by Ambassador Humphrey Orjiakor. He described the jurist as a round peg in a round hole, while commending her unquestionable commitment to truth and patriotism

For Justice Dongban-Mensem, Odili made a difference during her tenure as seen in the way she discharged her duties with ease. Her one-year tenure, she said, was marked by a good working relationship with the Bench and the Bar.

“Justice Odili championed the cause of improving the welfare of judicial officers and pursued the amendment of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee Rules to enthrone a more disciplined legal profession.”

Rafiu Lawal-Rabana SAN, speaking on behalf of the Body of Benchers, commended Odili’s transformative leadership, citing her instrumental role in implementing positive changes within the legal profession. From establishing management committees to championing amendments to disciplinary rules, her legacy of innovation and progress remains indelible.

“History will judge her as contributing positively to the growth of the legal profession and working towards enhancing the welfare and work environment for the judiciary.”

However, no one could be prouder of Odili than her family and loved ones, who basked in immense pride as she was showered with accolades. Her daughter, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, the Honourable Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, described her mother as a beacon of calmness, intelligence, humility, and care. 

“She paid attention to everyone in the house and walked them through the various paths they needed to succeed and even in marriage, she remained a support pillar for all of them in the house.”

In Rivers State, Justice Odili is highly respected. Apart from the women groups who see her as a pace setter, she towers as a naturally kind person who does not allow her background get into her head. Those who work or had worked with her husband perceive her as a great mother figure in the state.

Dr. Emma Okah who worked as Chief Press Secretary to former Governor Peter Odili and has remained a strong ally and loyalist of the Odili family said, women in the mould of Justice Odili are hard to come by.

“Her Excellency is excellent in many respects. She is deeply God-fearing, very beautiful, ageless, calm, always smiling, fair-minded and humble. I have never seen her raise her voice on any one. True, I have never. One great attribute of madam is that she is not materialistic. She shares whatever she has with family members, friends, the needy and staff. It was the need to care for the less-privileged that she formed The Adolescent Project (TAP) while she was Rivers State First Lady. God crowned her effort and today, most fortuitously, the site of TAP is the present location of the prestigious PAMO University of Medical Sciences. If there is any wish for her today, it is that God should keep her and my political father for another 50 years,” Dr. Okah said.

Amidst the accolades bestowed upon Odili, the atmosphere reflected the culmination of a series of events held in her honour upon her retirement from the Supreme Court in 2022.

While many retirees often retreat to solitude, Justice Odili, wife of former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili, remains a sought-after presence among her peers. Her intellectual contributions continue to be highly valued, ensuring that she remains in constant demand within legal circles.

Though age is not a guarantee of wisdom, in the case of Justice Odili, each passing year seems to enrich her legacy and deepen her impact on law and humanity.

Recently she was appointed the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the Rivers States University. She is equally a member of the National Judicial Council (NJC), the highest-decision judicial body in Nigeria.

Born Mary Ukaego Nzenwa into the esteemed lineage of His Royal Highness, Eze Bernard Nzenwa, and Ugoeze Bernadette Nzenwa of Amudi Obizi, Ezinihitte-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, Odili hails from a noble background. Her father, a distinguished lawyer of international renown, initially practised in the United Kingdom before assuming the role of Secretary at Nigerian Airways.

She attended several primary schools, including St Benedict’s Primary School, Obizi Ezinihitte, St. Michael’s Primary School, Umuahia, St. Agnes Primary School, Maryland and Our Lady of Apostles Primary School, Yaba. She briefly attended Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, also in Yaba, Lagos.

Following the outbreak of the civil war in 1967, Mary and her parents relocated to the South-east of the country. There, she continued her education at Owerri Girls High School until her family moved back to 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) in the West African School Certificate Examination. The same year, she gained admission into the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus where she read law. In her second year at the university, she earned a scholarship for maintaining the second class upper division league with higher scores.

She met her husband, a medical doctor, at a campus party. Graduating in 1976 with an LLB (Hons), she was recognised as the top student in commercial and property law. Subsequently, she obtained her B.L. certificate from the Nigerian Law School in 1977.

After completing her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) obligations as Pupil State Counsel in Abeokuta and Benin City from 1977 to 1978, she began her judicial career as a Magistrate Grade III in November 1978. She married Dr. Odili in 1977 and relocated to Port Harcourt, where he established Pamo Clinics. From 1980 to 1988, she held various roles including Chief Magistrate Grade I, Chair of the Juvenile Court, President of the Marine Board of Inquiry, Chair of the Constitution Drafting Committee for the University of Nigeria Alumni Associates, Inaugural Chairperson of FIDA Rivers State, and Secretary of the Nigerian Horticultural Society.

With her support, Peter ventured into politics, leading the Rivers State Delegates to the Constituent Assembly. In 1992, while she served as a High Court Judge, Odili became the Deputy Governor of Rivers State. Upon her husband’s election as governor in 1999, she assumed the role of First Lady until May 29, 2007.

She was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2004 and was the Presiding judge of the Kaduna Division of the court.

She once acknowledged the supportive role of her husband especially when the biggest offer yet came- she was asked to submit her resume and 10 judgments to be considered for an appointment to the Supreme Court. Besides being the topmost aspiration for any judge on the bench, the Supreme Court bench was a male-dominated one.

“I did not see the feasibility and Peter and I had a good laugh at the joke. The words of Hon. Justice Salami when I took the papers to his office was soothing and fatherly and I remain grateful to him. I was at the time Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division and as only God would make possible the unreal, I got to the apex court and the pinnacle of my judicial career,” she said during the valedictory court session held in her honour in 2022.

Throughout her career, she delivered landmark judgments and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s legal landscape, leaving a lasting legacy in the judiciary. She was the leader of the five-person panel at the Supreme Court that nullified the governorship election of David Lyon after his deputy was found wanting for submitting fake certificates during pre-election screening after they were declared winners on November 16, 2019, Bayelsa State gubernatorial election. The judgment has helped political parties in Nigeria to thoroughly scrutinise and vet candidates’ certificates and their backgrounds before fielding for elections.

As she celebrates another year of life and achievements, the retired jurist remains an inspiration to women generally and female lawyers in particular. At 72, her legacy of resilience, jurisprudence and philanthropy continues to shape the landscape of Nigeria and inspire generations to come.