One needs presidential backing or political party support to become federal judge – FCT Justice
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court judge, Mabel Segun-Bello, has said a judicial officer would need the backing of the presidency or the support of a political party to become a judge.
Segun-Bello said this in Abuja on Saturday, at the 2024 Clarity Conference, with the theme ‘The Constellation: Gathering of Stars, by Stars And For Stars’.
The high court judge, who was the keynote speaker at the event, revealed that she has persevered in her career, stating that she came from a humble beginning.
“You may come from a poverty-stricken background. That is a powerful condition, but you must have the will to rise above it,” Segun-Bello said.
“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.
“To become a federal judge, you need the backing of the presidency or support from a political party. I had neither,” she said.
“This goes to show that principles, when applied universally, can make anything possible.”
The judge was sworn in as a federal high court judge in 2022, alongside five others.
