Red-capped Nigerian Igbo chiefs were among those who filled Court No. 4 at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Monday to witness the swearing-in of Margaret Obi as a High Court Judge of England and Wales, According to thetimes.com/uk report.
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Obi, a former Nigerian solicitor, becomes the most senior black judge in England and Wales and the only serving High Court judge of African descent, marking a historic milestone in British judicial history. She is also the second black woman and only the eighth solicitor to attain the prestigious rank.
Presiding over the ceremony, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, the Lady Chief Justice, described Obi’s journey as exceptional, remarking that her “almost Jedi-like qualities were evident from the start of her career.” Carr humorously noted that in the “race to the top, Obi won,” highlighting her remarkable achievements and resilience.
The Lady Chief Justice also pointed out an interesting coincidence — that Obi was the second person from Tottenham, North London, to be sworn in at the court within a month, following David Lammy, who recently took the oath as Lord Chancellor. Both Lammy and Obi grew up on the same street in Tottenham.
Justice Obi’s appointment officially took effect on October 3, 2025, as confirmed by reputable British legal publications, including The Global Legal Post. She now serves in the King’s Bench Division, where she is expected to bring to bear her 27 years of legal practice and seven years of judicial experience.
Prior to her elevation, she held several senior positions, including Deputy High Court Judge, Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge, and Chair of the Competition Appeal Tribunal. In 2023, she made headlines when she was appointed Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of the British Indian Ocean Territory — further establishing her as a respected and versatile jurist.
Oba Nsugbe (KC), Head of Pump Court Chambers, congratulated Justice Obi, describing her as humble and deeply connected to her heritage. “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,” Nsugbe said.
Her appointment has drawn widespread celebration across the United Kingdom and Nigeria, hailed as a powerful testament to the global excellence of Nigerian professionals.
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