A Federal High Court judge, Justice Mabel Segun-Bello, has revealed that to attain the position of a federal judge in Nigeria, one must either have the backing of the presidency or a political party.
Speaking on Saturday in Abuja at the 2024 Clarity Conference, themed “The Constellation: Gathering of Stars, By Stars and For Stars,” Justice Segun-Bello shared insights from her challenging journey to the top.
As the keynote speaker at the event, she recounted how her rise to the esteemed position of a federal judge was anything but easy, emphasizing that determination was key to her success.
Addressing the participants at the conference, she stated, “You may come from a poverty-stricken background. That is a powerful condition, but you must have the will to rise above it.
” If I tell you where I come from, two things will happen: you will either think I’m lying or start crying. And remember, I’m not just a state judge; I’m a federal judge.”
She continued, “To become a federal judge, you need the backing of the presidency or support from a political party. I had neither. This goes to show that principles, when applied universally, can make anything possible.”
The convener of the conference, Atuzie Tuzzi, highlighted the purpose of the event, saying, “We organised the Clarity Conference to guide young people from the ideation phase to implementation.
“Many struggle with feelings of inadequacy due to their early environment and the exposure they had during school years.”