Mohammed Bello (Judge)
Encyclopedia
Justice Mohammed Bello was the first Northern Chief Justice of Nigeria (1987-1995). He was an eminent jurist who tried to protect the court against the excess of military incursion in judicial matters.
, in 1943. For secondary tutelage, he attended the Middle school in Katsina
. He then proceeded to the University College Ibadan
to study Latin
as a preparatory course for a Law degree. Between 1953 and 1955, he was at Inn of court, London, earning his law degree.
Mohammed Bello then started his professional law career as the pupil crown counsel to the Northern Nigeria government in 1956. In 1961, he was appointed the chief magistrate, Northern Nigeria and served in that capacity for three years. He took on another public duty as the Director of Public Prosecutions, Northern Nigeria. During the waning months of the Nigerian civil war, Justice Mohammed Bello was appointed acting and later Chief Justice
of Northern Nigeria between 1969 and 1975.
towards peace and away from political controversy with the exception of a few instances.
In 1986, he was the chair of a judicial inquiry tribunal that reviewed military court decisions affecting prominent politicians such as Olabisi Onabanjo
, Prof D.A. Odenikpe, Dr Oladewa, Prof Ambrose Ali, Mr Solomon Lar
, Chief Melford Okilo
, Olawale Edwards, and Chief Folowonsho
Education and early life
Mohammed Bello was born in Katsina, his father, Gidado was the mufti of Katsina. He started early education at the Central Elementary school KatsinaKatsina
Katsina is a city , and a Local Government Area in northern Nigeria, and is the capital of Katsina State. Katsina is located some 160 miles east of the city of Sokoto, and 84 miles northwest of Kano, close to the border with Niger. As of 2007, Katsina's estimated population was 459,022...
, in 1943. For secondary tutelage, he attended the Middle school in Katsina
Katsina
Katsina is a city , and a Local Government Area in northern Nigeria, and is the capital of Katsina State. Katsina is located some 160 miles east of the city of Sokoto, and 84 miles northwest of Kano, close to the border with Niger. As of 2007, Katsina's estimated population was 459,022...
. He then proceeded to the University College Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
to study Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
as a preparatory course for a Law degree. Between 1953 and 1955, he was at Inn of court, London, earning his law degree.
Mohammed Bello then started his professional law career as the pupil crown counsel to the Northern Nigeria government in 1956. In 1961, he was appointed the chief magistrate, Northern Nigeria and served in that capacity for three years. He took on another public duty as the Director of Public Prosecutions, Northern Nigeria. During the waning months of the Nigerian civil war, Justice Mohammed Bello was appointed acting and later Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of Northern Nigeria between 1969 and 1975.
Supreme Court
Described as a detribalized Nigerian by some of his peers, Justice Mohammed Bello's tenure at the Supreme Court was one of a fearless actor in the midst of a military onslaught on democratic norms and judicial precedents. As the supreme court chief he steered the wheels of the judiciaryJudiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
towards peace and away from political controversy with the exception of a few instances.
In 1986, he was the chair of a judicial inquiry tribunal that reviewed military court decisions affecting prominent politicians such as Olabisi Onabanjo
Olabisi Onabanjo
Victor Olabisi Onabanjo was governor of Ogun State in Nigeria from October 1979 – December 1983, during the Nigerian Second Republic. He was of Ijebu extraction.-Background:Oloye Victor Olabisi Onabanjo was born in 1927 in Lagos...
, Prof D.A. Odenikpe, Dr Oladewa, Prof Ambrose Ali, Mr Solomon Lar
Solomon Lar
Chief Solomon Daushep Lar is a Nigerian politician who has held various offices at the National level for over 50 years.He was a member of the first national parliament when Nigeria gained independence in 1960....
, Chief Melford Okilo
Melford Okilo
Melford Obiene Okilo had a long and distinguished career as a politician in Nigeria from the start of independence in 1960 until shortly before his death in 2008....
, Olawale Edwards, and Chief Folowonsho