Modupe Omo-Eboh (1922 – 25 February 2002) was a Nigerian lawyer and jurist who was the country's first female judge.

Modupe Omo-Eboh
Birth nameModupe Omo-Eboh
Born1922
Lagos State
Died25 February 2002(2002-02-25) (aged 79–80)
OccupationA lawyer

Early life and education

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Modupe Akingbehin was born in Lagos State in 1922. Her mother was a granddaughter of the Lagos aristocrat Oshodi Tapa and a great granddaughter of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who was himself a descendant of King Abiodun of Oyo. The nationalist Herbert Macaulay was her maternal great-uncle.[1] She attended Queen's College, Lagos before studying law in London.[2]

Career

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Omo-Eboh was called to the English bar at Lincoln's Inn on 14 March 1953.[1][3] She worked as a lawyer, Magistrate, Chief Magistrate, Administrator-General and Public Trustee, Director of Public Prosecutions and Acting Solicitor-General before she became a judge in Benin City on Thursday 13 November 1969,[1] the first woman appointed to the High Courts of Nigeria.[1][4] In 1976, she was appointed to the Lagos judiciary.[5]

Omo-Eboh died on 25 February 2002.[6]

There is a Justice Modupe Omo-Eboh Street in Lagos named after her.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Omo-Eboh's husband was a Justice of the Court of Appeal from Edo State.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Significant milestone - The Nigerian Observer, 15th November 1969, pg2". 18 October 2017. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. ^ Ajibla-Ogundip, Phebean (2012). Up-Country Girl: A Personal Journey and Truthful Portrayal of African Culture. AuthorHouse. p. 135. ISBN 9781468584738.
  3. ^ a b "Women Who Blazed The Legal Trail In Nigeria". Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  4. ^ Bauer, gretchen; Dawuni, Josephine (2015). Gender and the Judiciary in Africa: From Obscurity to Parity?. Routledge. p. 69. ISBN 9781317516491.
  5. ^ New Breed, Volume 5. New Breed Organisation. 1976. p. 33.
  6. ^ Gbadebo, Gbenga (2004). Tell, Issues 9-17. Tell Communications Limited. p. 12.