Mary Odili

Mary Ukaego Odili (née Nzenwa; CFR born 12 May 1952) is a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. She was appointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice Katsina-Alu on 23 June 2011.

Before becoming a Supreme court judge, she held numerous important offices, including Judge at the High Court of Rivers State (1992–2004), Justice at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division (2004–2010), and Presiding Justice at the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division (2010–2011).

Early life and education Mary Ukaego Nzenwa was born on 12 May 1952 in Amudi Obizi, Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State in southeast Nigeria. She is the second daughter of Eze Bernard Nzenwa and Ugoeze Benadette Nzenwa. Her father worked as a lawyer in the United Kingdom during 1959 before he was made Secretary of the Nigeria Airways. Ukaego attended a number of primary schools as a child including St Benedict's Primary School, Obizi Ezinitte, 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.

Supreme Court She had held the offices of Justice, Court of Appeal, Abuja Division and Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division. On 3 May 2011, President Jonathan nominated Ukaego with two other Appeal Court Justices to the Supreme Court. In the new arrangement, she will represent the Southeast geo-political zone in the apex court bench. In a letter to the Senate, Jonathan said their appointment was necessitated by the retirement from service of Justices Niki Tobi, I.F. Ogbuagu, J.O. Ogebe and G. A. Oguntade. Ukaego was appointed an Associate justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) on 23 June 2011.

She was the leader of the Five Person Panel at the Supreme Court that nullified the Gubernatorial Election of David Lyon after his deputy was found wanting for submitting fake certificates during pre-election screening after they were declared winners on 16 November 2019, Bayelsa State gubernatorial elections.

Retirement On 12 May 2022, Mary Odili was retired from the Supreme Court, on attaining the age of 70.