Justice Idongesit Ntem Isua (Rtd) is a retired Nigerian jurist who served as the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State from September 2008 until her retirement (2008–2015). A trailblazer for women in the Nigerian legal system, she was the first female Chief Judge in the state.
Early Life and Education
Born on May 1, 1950, to Chief Tom J. A. Ntem of Ikot Obio Inyang and Mrs. Mayen T. Ntem, she is a native of Ikot Obio Inyang in Etinan LGA, Akwa Ibom State. Her educational background includes:
- University of Lagos: LL.B. (Hons) (1970–1973)
- Nigerian Law School: B.L. (1973–1974)
- Columbia Law School, USA: LLM (1975–1976)
Judicial Career
- Appointment: She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1974 and sworn in as a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Akwa Ibom State, in December 1991.
- Leadership: She served as the Chief Judge from 2008 until her retirement, presiding over significant cases and administrative reforms within the state judiciary.
- Roles: Before becoming Chief Judge, she held various positions including Solicitor-General, Director-General of the Ministry of Justice, and Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State.
Notable Contributions and Honors
- Advocacy: She was an active member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and the National Association of Women Judges, focusing on women’s and children’s rights.
- Awards: She received the Distinguished Alumnus Merit Award in Professionalism from the University of Lagos Alumni Association, Akwa Ibom Branch.
- Legacy: Justice Isua is recognized for her role in modernizing the Akwa Ibom judiciary and for swearing in key state officials, including the state’s first female Deputy Governor.
Key aspects of her career include:
- Judicial Leadership: She presided over significant legal matters in Akwa Ibom, including the conviction of former NDDC Commissioner Pastor Godwin Moffat Eyo for stealing electricity transformers and handling high-profile cases involving political figures.
- National Recognition: In 2014, she was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by President Goodluck Jonathan for her contributions to the judiciary.
Professional Legacy: A graduate of the University of Lagos and Columbia Law School, she was also recognized as an Ambassador of Charity by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in 2025.
Justice Idongesit Ntem Isua retired on April 30, 2015 (with her formal retirement effective May 1, 2015), after serving as the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State