By Fawaz Adebisi
Hon. Justice Habeeb Adewale Olumuyiwa Abiru, popularly known as Wale Abiru, has been nominated as one of the 22 new justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He is among the first batch of nominees to be screened and confirmed by the Senate.
Wale Abiru was nominated by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), along with 21 other justices from the Court of Appeal, for consideration to be elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The list of nominees was submitted to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for further screening and confirmation by the Senate.
Wale Abiru was born in Ikorodu, a city in Lagos State, Nigeria.
He obtained his LL.B degree from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1984 and his LL.M degree in 1987. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985.
He started his legal practice in 1988 and worked in various law firms until 2001, when he was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Lagos State.
He served in different divisions and tribunals of the High Court until 2012, when he was elevated to the Court of Appeal. He has sat in the Akure, Kaduna, Jos and Kano divisions of the Court of Appeal.
He is regarded as a distinguished jurist and a leading expert in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.
He has delivered many landmark judgments and rulings in various areas of law, such as constitutional law, electoral law, commercial law, criminal law and human rights law.
He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria and a prolific writer of legal papers and publications.
He is known for his integrity, professionalism and impartiality on the bench. He is expected to bring his wealth of experience and knowledge to the Supreme Court, if confirmed by the Senate.
Wale Abiru is married and blessed with children. He is a devout Muslim and a lover of sports and music.
