A distinguished jurist with an illustrious career spanning decades of meritorious service in the Nigerian judiciary. A native of Nkwerre Local Government Area in Imo State, she was born on February 2, 1959 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Her Lordship began her early education at Methodist Primary School, Ogui, Enugu, and St. Paul’s Primary School, Nkwerre, from 1964 to 1970. She proceeded to St. Catherine’s Girls Secondary School, Benin, Edo State (1970–1974), and later attended Idia College, Benin (1976–1977). Her pursuit of legal excellence led her to the University of Lagos, where she obtained her LL.B. in 1981, followed by her call to the Nigerian Bar in 1982 after completing studies at the Nigerian Law School. Her Lordship further advanced her academic credentials with a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, in 1991, and later earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Law from the same university between 1993 and 1998.
Hon. Justice Nwosu-Iheme commenced her legal career in private practice at the firm of S.N. Nwala & Co., Aba, Abia State (1982–1983), before transitioning into public service. She was appointed State Counsel in the old Imo State Ministry of Justice in 1983, rising to the position of Senior State Counsel in 1986. In the same year, she joined the Magisterial Bench, where she steadily rose to become Chief Magistrate in 1993. Her exceptional performance led to her appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Imo State in 1995, marking the beginning of an outstanding judicial career.
On February 15, 2008, Her Lordship was elevated to the Court of Appeal, where she served with distinction across various judicial divisions. She notably held the esteemed position of Presiding Justice of the Awka, Ekiti, and Ibadan Divisions of the Court of Appeal from 2019 to 2023.
Beyond her judicial responsibilities, Hon. Justice Nwosu-Iheme has contributed significantly to various national and international legal assignments. She has served as a member of the National Assembly, Governorship, and Legislative Houses Election Petition Tribunals. Additionally, she was a designated Judge of the Corrupt Practices Court for Imo State from 2001 to 2008, as appointed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Her international standing was further solidified when she was elected by the United Nations General Assembly in New York as an ad litem Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal (ICC) at The Hague, Netherlands.
Her Lordship is a respected member of numerous professional bodies and has received several prestigious awards and recognitions for her contributions to the legal profession and the administration of justice. In recognition of her unwavering commitment to justice, judicial excellence, and service to the nation, Hon. Justice Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme was elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria on February 26, 2024.