Background
Bello, Mohammed was born in 1930 in Katsina, Nigeria, WORLD0. Son of Mallam Muhammad Gidado.
chief justice of Nigerian supreme court
Bello, Mohammed was born in 1930 in Katsina, Nigeria, WORLD0. Son of Mallam Muhammad Gidado.
Student, University Ibadan, Nigeria, 1951-1952; student, Lincon's Inn, London, 1953-1955; student, Court London, 1955; student, Harvard University, 1962-1963; Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Ibadan, 1987; Doctor of Laws (honorary), Abu U., Zaria, 1990; Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Lagos Obafemi Awolowo U., Nigeria, 1992.
He was an eminent jurist who tried to protect the court against the excess of military incursion in judicial matters. He started early education at the Central Elementary school Katsina, in 1943. He then proceeded to the University College Ibadan to study Latin as a preparatory course for a Law degree.
Between 1953 and 1955, he was at Inn of court, London, earning his law degree.
Mohammed Bello then started his professional law career as the pupil crown counsel to the Northern Nigeria government in 1956. In 1961, he was appointed the chief magistrate, Northern Nigeria and served in that capacity for three years.
He took on another public duty as the Director of Public Prosecutions, Northern Nigeria. During the waning months of the Nigerian civil war, Justice Mohammed Bello was appointed acting and later Chief Justice of Northern Nigeria between 1969 and 1975.
Described as a detribalized Nigerian by some of his peers, Justice Mohammed Bello"s tenure at the was one of a fearless actor in the midst of a military onslaught on democratic norms and judicial precedents.
As the supreme court chief he steered the wheels of the judiciary towards peace and away from political controversy with the exception of a few instances. In 1986, he was the chair of a judicial inquiry tribunal that reviewed military court decisions affecting prominent politicians such as Olabisi Onabanjo, Professor Doctorate.A. Odenikpe, Doctor Oladewa, Professor Ambrose Ali, Mr Solomon Lar, Chief Melford Okilo, Olawale Edwards, and Chief Folowonsho.
Member Nigerian Institute International Affairs, Commonwealth Magistrates Association, Permanent Court Arbitration Hague, Sheriff Guards Nigeria (national commissioner), Harvard Law School Association, Lincoln's Inn (London, honorary bencher 1992), Order of the Niger (grand commander 1993).
Married.