Nigerian woman appointed high court judge in UK

A Nigerian former solicitor, Margaret Obi, has been named a High Court judge in England and Wales, marking another milestone for Africans in the British judiciary.

Her appointment, which became effective on October 3, 2025, was confirmed by multiple British media outlets, including Global Legal Post.

According to reports, Obi is “one of only eight current High Court judges who previously practised as solicitors.” She will serve in the King’s Bench Division, bringing with her more than 27 years of legal experience and seven years on the bench.

Head of Pump Court Chambers in the UK, Oba Nsugbe (KC), congratulated her on the appointment, saying, “For as long as I have known her, Mrs Justice Obi has always been naturally low-key and entirely grounded; never once forgetting her Nigerian roots.”

Before her elevation, Obi served as Deputy High Court Judge, Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge, and Chair of the Competition Appeal Tribunal. In 2023, she was also appointed acting judge of the Supreme Court of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Her rise to the High Court underscores both her professional excellence and the growing global recognition of Nigerian legal practitioners.