Four Women in the Arena of Justice: CJN Kekere-Ekun, Justice Dongban-Mensem, Justice Nyako, and the Fate of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan -By John Egbeazien Oshodi

A single image can say what entire histories often hide. In the pictures alongside this piece, you will see four women—Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Justice Binta Nyako, and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan—framed against a system that has failed too many for too long. Their faces represent power, pain, silence, and defiance in a legal culture haunted by patriarchal dominance. They are not just figures of law, but women suspended between duty and danger, between institutional obligation and moral urgency. These portraits now challenge the judiciary not just to perform legality, but to remember justice. They invite a reckoning: will these women be symbols of hope or figureheads of a system too compromised to respond? Together, they stand at a crossroads where Nigeria’s judiciary will either reclaim its moral compass or surrender it fully to fear, to compromise, and to the men who believe themselves untouchable.

CJN Kudirat Kekere-Ekun: You Must Guide Justice Back from the Hands of Men

Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun holds the most visible seat in the Nigerian judiciary, but history will not judge her by robe alone. In this critical moment, she must prove that her silence is not consent. She must step beyond traditional decorum and take an active stance against the political capture of the judiciary—especially as it threatens to erase a woman like Natasha. The CJN must not only defend judicial ethics in speech but enforce them in action. That means ensuring that judges like Justice Nyako are allowed to rule without fear or influence from powerful male actors in Abuja who wish to bury this case quietly. It also means publicly reasserting the independence of the judiciary in matters where women are systematically punished for dissent. If she fails to make her presence known now, the judiciary will appear not merely compromised, but complicit. This is a moment that demands moral leadership, not ceremonial distance. Nigerians are tired of fear-driven pretense and silent compromise. CJN, this is not just a courtroom battle. It is a battle for what justice means when male power believes itself to be godlike. Remind your judges, especially Nyako, that the rule of law—not the rule of fear—must govern their decisions.

Justice Binta Nyako: The Gavel Must Not Echo the Voices of Power

Justice Nyako stands at a judicial crossroad. The ruling she is expected to deliver on June 27, 2025, is not simply procedural; it is historic. She holds in her hands a case that asks whether a woman who spoke about harassment can find protection in the courts, or whether she will be punished further by the very system that claims to defend the rule of law. Nyako must resist any external pressure—whether veiled or overt—from the entrenched male elite who want this issue dissolved in silence. She must recognize the emotional, symbolic, and democratic weight of her decision. To rule purely on jurisdiction, without confronting the larger injustice at play, would be to miss the moment entirely. She has the power to send a message that the judiciary cannot be used to discipline women who speak. The weight of Natasha’s voice, and the eyes of every silenced woman, are now on her courtroom. If she falters, history will not call it caution. It will call it betrayal. Nyako must remember: no man—not Akpabio, not Wike, not even the Senate as a whole—is above the law. The courtroom is not their playground. It must be the people’s sanctuary. More urgently, Nigerians are beginning to ask: why must such a vital case—clear in its violation of a court order—take so long to resolve? Why delay until June 27? When justice lingers, so does trauma. And in a matter so emotionally and politically charged, delay becomes denial.

Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem: The Next Woman Who May Be Called to Choose

Justice Dongban-Mensem has built a reputation for grace, intellect, and a commitment to fairness. She has spoken publicly about gender equality and the need for reform across sectors. Soon, she may be asked to put those words into action. If the Natasha-Akpabio case reaches the Court of Appeal, she must ensure that her court becomes a space of reasoned justice, not legal gymnastics designed to serve the politically powerful. She must insist on a full review not only of law but of context—of the cultural and gendered implications of silencing a woman who has alleged harassment. This is not just about precedent; it is about legacy. Will she uphold a status quo that protects hierarchy over honesty, or will she offer the judiciary a chance to reclaim the trust of a disillusioned public? Her decision may shape not only this case but the entire moral trajectory of her tenure. She must work in unison with the CJN to ensure that Nigerian women—and indeed all citizens—see that the courts are not under the command of men who believe they are untouchable.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan: The One They Tried to Silence but Could Not Erase

Senator Natasha’s courage lies not in defiance, but in honesty. She spoke truths too many in the system fear. She exposed not only the misconduct but the deep hostility women face when they attempt to lead without compromise. Her punishment was swift and symbolic—reassignment, humiliation, suspension. But her determination to seek redress has elevated this from a personal fight to a national mirror. She represents every woman who has ever been told to be quiet, to endure, to step aside. Her legal struggle is not for reinstatement alone. It is for dignity, accountability, and the right to exist in public life without being crushed by its violence. If the courts fail her, it is not just Natasha who will bleed. The credibility of the judiciary will hemorrhage alongside her.

Four Women. One Judiciary. A Nation Watching.

This moment is no longer ceremonial—it is aching. Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun must finally rise above tradition and remind the system what moral leadership looks like. Justice Binta Nyako must not simply rule; she must restore faith in a court that many fear is no longer theirs. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem must remember that her voice as a woman in appellate power is not a gift—it is a responsibility. And Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan must no longer be left to stand alone for speaking what so many cannot.

These women are not just names in robes or headlines—they are the last thread between a judiciary that serves the people and one that surrenders to those who crush dissent with ceremony. Nigeria is not just watching. It is breaking. Because when a woman speaks and the courts grow silent, it is not just the law that dies—it is hope.

Let it be said: if the judiciary fails Natasha, it fails every Nigerian woman who has ever tried to be heard in a room full of men who never intended to listen. If it fails her, the robe becomes a mask, the gavel a muzzle, and justice nothing but performance.

Let these women not just wear the robe—but carry the weight. Let them not just preserve the institution—but redeem it. Because if not now, if not for this, then what is justice for?

This writer does not know any of the individuals involved; the focus is solely on upholding democracy, truth, and justice.

Psychologist John Egbeazien Oshodi

Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi is an American psychologist, educator, and author specializing in forensic, legal, and clinical psychology, cross-cultural psychology, police and prison sciences, and community justice. Born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, he is the son of a 37-year veteran of the Nigeria Police Force—an experience that shaped his enduring commitment to justice, security, and psychological reform.

A pioneer in the field, he introduced state-of-the-art forensic psychology to Nigeria in 2011 through the National Universities Commission and Nasarawa State University, where he served as Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology. His contributions extend beyond academia through the Oshodi Foundation and the Center for Psychological and Forensic Services, advancing mental health, behavioral reform, and institutional transformation.

Professor Oshodi has held faculty positions at Florida Memorial University, Florida International University, Broward College, where he also served as Assistant Professor and Interim Associate Dean, Nova Southeastern University, and Lynn University. He is currently a contributing faculty member at Walden University and a virtual professor with Weldios University and ISCOM University.

In the United States, he serves as a government consultant in forensic-clinical psychology, offering expertise in mental health, behavioral analysis, and institutional evaluation. He is also the founder of Psychoafricalysis, a theoretical framework that integrates African sociocultural dynamics into modern psychology.

A proud Black Republican, Professor Oshodi advocates for individual empowerment, ethical leadership, and institutional integrity. His work focuses on promoting functional governance and sustainable development across Africa.