An Appraisal of the Contribution of Muslim Women in the Judiciary in North-West Nigeria
Keywords:
Muslim Women, Appraisal, Contribution, Judiciary, North-West NigeriaAbstract
This study explores Muslim women's contribution to the judiciary, which is for promoting gender equality and justice in North West Nigeria. The study aims to examine the impact of Muslim women's participation in the judiciary, exploring their roles, challenges, and contributions to the legal system. The research involves a comprehensive analysis of existing literature, judicial data, and possibly interviews with Muslim women in the judiciary. The study reveals the significant impact of Muslim women on the system. Despite facing challenges, they have made notable contributions, promoting diversity, inclusivity, and access to justice. It also highlights the benefits of increased Muslim women's participation in the judiciary in order to partake in decision-making, as well as assist in improved justice delivery in sensitive matters of women, and enhanced public trust in the legal system. The research would contribute to ongoing discussions about gender representation in the judiciary, particularly in Muslim-majority regions, and inform policies to support greater inclusion of women in the legal profession. In conclusion, the work has considerably discussed the contributions and challenges faced by Muslim women in the judicial system fact that Muslim Women have a greater role and responsibility to play in the judiciary system, not only in Northern Nigeria but Nigeria as a whole.
Downloads
References
[1] Abdelkader, E., (2014). A Comparative Analysis of Islamic Jurisprudential Approaches to Female Judges in the Muslim world (Indonesia, Egypt, and Iran). Fordham International Law Journal, vol. 37, pp. 309-372.
[2] Aisha, B.B., Faiza, K.U. & Muhammad, G.W. Contemporary Muslim Women in Northern Nigeria; Challenges and Prospect. Journal of Al-Muqaddimah, Vol. 12 (2), 2024, 71-81 https://doi.org/10.22452/muqaddimah.vol12no2.5
[3] Bolaji, P.D. and Waltger, O., (eds.) (1979). Readings on Federalism, Ibadan: Ibadan, University Press.
[4] Edosa, E. and Fenemigho, E.O., (2014). The Judiciary as an Organ of Government. An International Multidisciplinary Journal, Ethiopia. Vol. 8(3), Serial No. 34, pp. 92-101.
[5] Hassan, A.S., (2017). Muslim Women and the Society: Public Service in Perspective. International Journal of Islamic Studies and Development. Vol. 9(2), pp. 86-102.
[6] Iqra, N., (2023). The Role of Muslim Women in the Judiciary under the Context of Maqasid Al-Shari'a. https://ssrn.com/abstract=4506587.
[7] Khan, M.M. and T.A. (2003). Muhammad, Interpretation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur’an in English Language. King Fahd Complex for the printing of the Holy Qur’an, Madinah K.S.A.
[8] Monique, C., (2008). Women and the Judiciary in Syria: Appointments Process, Training and Career Paths. International Journal of the Legal Profession, vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 123-139.
[9] Nahla, O.Z., (2019). The Judicial System of Islam. New Jersey, The Islamic.
[10] Okeke, C. (2018). Women in the judiciary in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects. Journal of Law and Politics, 14(1), 1-15.
[11] Tamanaha, B. Z. (2004). On the rule of law: History, politics, theory. Cambridge University Press.
[13] United Nations, (2019). Women in the Judiciary in the Arab States Removing Barriers, Increasing Numbers. Economic and Social Committee for Western Asia (ESCWA). United Nations, Beirut.
[14] Yousuf, M.A., (2011). The Appointment of Muslim Women as Judges in the Courts: A Textual Analysis from Islamic Perspective. 2nd International Conference on Humanities, Historical and Social Sciences IPEDR Vol. 17, IACSIT Press, Singapore.
[15] An In depth interview (Focused Group Discussion) conducted at Group of Magistrates courts, Sokoto and Zamfara, 22/02/2024 and 7/4/2024.
[16] An In depth Interview (Focused Group Discussion) conducted with some female judges in the High Court of Justice Sokoto, and Kebbi state, sampling both public and private legal practitioners in the area under coverage, on 28/2/2024, 21/3/2024 and 2/4/2024.
[17] Asma’u Muhammad, (39 years), Ministry of Justice Zamafara State, Principal State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Zamfara, Interviewed at the State Ministry of Justice Zamfara, 2/4/2024.
[18] Focused group discussion (FGD), Conducted with some Muslim Women Magistrates in the Studied Region, 27/2/2024.
[19] Hadiza Abubakar Lamido, (50 years), Gwiwa area, Sokoto, Chief Registrar, Shari’ah Court of Appeal, Sokoto, Interviewed at State Shari’ah Court of Appeal, Sokoto, 1/3/2024.
[20] Hadiza M. Tukur, (51 years), Birnin Kebbi, Director Civil Litigation Ministry of Justice Kebbi State, Interviewed at Kebbi State Ministry of Justice, 31/3/2024.
[21] Justice Amina Modi, (42 years), High court Judge Sokoto, Interviewed at Sokoto State High Court of Justice, 28/2/2024.
[22] Lauratu J. Suru, (53 years), Kebbi State Judiciary, High Court Judge, Kebbi State, Interviewed at Ministry of Justice, Kebbi State, 11/3/2024.
[23] Mariya Haruna Dogon Daji, (47 years), High Court Sokoto, Chief Registrar (CR) High Court of Justice Sokoto, Interviewed at state high court, Sokoto, 28/2/2024.
[24] Maryam Attahir, (41 years), Old Airport area, Sokoto, Assistant Director, Ministry of Justice, Sokoto, Interviewed at the State Ministry of Justice, Sokoto, 29/2/2024.
[25] Rashidat Mohammed, (38 years), Rashida Mohammed & Co Chambers, Sokoto, Principal Partner Rashida Mohammed & Co. Chambers Sokoto, also, the Chairman NBA Sokoto Branch, Interviewed at National Human Rights Commission, Sokoto, 18/3/2024.
[26] Rukayya Ahmad Hassan, (56 years), Runjin Sambo area, Sokoto, Higher Registrar, High Court of Justice, Sokoto, Interviewed in High Court, Sokoto, 28/2/2024.
[27] Rukubatu Aliyu Kanoma, (43 years), Sabaru Zamfara, Chief Magistrate, Zamfara State Judiciary, Interviewed at CMC II, Zamfara, 2/4/2024.
[28] Sadiya Aliyu, (36 years), High Court of Justice, Kebbi, Legal Assistant, Interviewed in High court, Kebbi State.
[29] Sadiya Suleiman, (34 years), Assistant Registrar, City Lower Shari’ah Court, Sokoto, Interviewed in Shari’ah Court, 13/3/2024.
[30] Samira Isah Manga, Argungu Kebbi State, Chief Magistrate Argungu court I, Kebbi State, Interviewed at CMC Argungu Court II, 21/3/2024.
[31] Shema’u Mukhtar Jega, (35 years), Registrar, Shari’ah Court of Appeal, Kebbi, Interviewed in Shari’ah Court of Appeal, Kebbi State, 26/1/2024.
[32] Sumayya Abubakar Sardauna, (29 years), High Court, Sokoto, Judicial Assistant High Court of Justice Court XII, Sokoto, Interviewed at State High Court of Justice, Sokoto, 28/2/2024.
[33] Zainab Bello, (50 years), Kebbi State Judiciary, Chief Magistrate Kebbi State, Interviewed in Kebbi State Judiciary, 11/3/2024.
[34] E. Smart and A. Wood, “Women Robed in Independence: How Women Judges Influence Perceptions of Judicial Independence in Europe,” J. Law Court., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 166–183, 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/jlc.2024.23.
[35] I. Halimatusa’diyah and W. Triana, “Sexism and women’s access to justice: Feminist judging in Indonesian Islamic judiciary,” Womens. Stud. Int. Forum, vol. 103, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2024.102883.
[36] J. J. Dawuni, “Women in judiciaries across Africa,” in The Palgrave Handbook of African Women’s Studies, vol. 1–3, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Political Science, Howard University, Washington, DC, United States: Springer International Publishing, 2021, pp. 353–373. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28099-4_75.
[37] S. Abdillah, S. Sunarsa, M. D. Somantri, E. I. Syaripudin, and H. Fauziah, “Revisting the Role of Women as Witnesses in Fiqh Justice,” Ahkam J. Ilmu Syariah, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 61–80, 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.15408/ajis.v19i1.11768.
[38] M. Urbániková, B. Havelková, and D. Kosař, “The Art of Waiting Humbly: Women Judges Reflect on Vertical Gender Segregation,” Fem. Leg. Stud., vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 259–284, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10691-023-09533-w.
[39] J. J. Dawuni and A. Kuenyehia, International courts and the African woman judge: Unveiled narratives. Howard University, Washington D.C., United States: Taylor and Francis, 2017. doi: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315444444.
[40] K. Vohra, “Women in the law: Analysing recent developments,” Econ. Polit. Wkly., vol. 54, no. 21, pp. 18–20, 2019, [Online]. Available: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85066470420&partnerID=40&md5=32664729458da111606c3cb055ec45dc
[41] F. Sona, “Divorcing abroad, sharīah style: Legal reforms and Moroccan women,” Oxford J. Law Relig., vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 253–282, 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ojlr/rwad017.
[42] L. Holden, “Women judges in Pakistan* ,” Int. J. Leg. Prof., vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 89–104, 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09695958.2018.1490296.
[43] R. Sieder, A. Braconnier, and C. De León, “Women in the Judiciary in Guatemala: Living between Professionalization and Political Capture,” Work. Pap. - Chr. Michelsen Inst., vol. 2022, no. 2, pp. 4–52, 2022, [Online]. Available: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85141434728&partnerID=40&md5=b8e3557c153aee46436ef8765e14488d
[44] S. Nath, “Secularism in Crisis: The Indian States Codification of Muslim Personal Law and the Relegation of Muslim Womens Rights,” Stud. Relig. Relig., vol. 45, no. 4, pp. 520–541, 2016, doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0008429816655573.
[45] F. S. Muhammud, N. A. N. M. Zawawi, R. Saedon, and N. F. G. Ahmad, “Strengthening the Family Support Division (BSK) on Alimony for Muslim Women,” Glob. J. Al-Thaqafah, vol. JULY2024, no. SPECIALISSUE, pp. 99–113, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.7187/GJATSI072024-7.
Downloads
Submitted
Accepted
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Shafa'atu Aliyu Barmo, Aisha Abubakar Tsoho
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
