Mrs. Shija was born on the 2nd of February 1962 at Calabar, Cross River State. By virtue of marriage, she now hails from Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State.
She had her primary education at Holy Child Convent Primary School Calabar from 1970 to1975 and received her First School Leaving Certificate. She was then admitted to Federal Government Girls College Calabar, in 1975-1980 and passed out with a WASC.
She attended the School of Arts and Science, Uyo from 1980 to1982 after which she gained admission to the University of Calabar from 1982-1986 where she bagged an LLB (Hons) Certificate. She went ahead to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos and obtained a BL certificate in 1988.
An experienced legal luminary, Justice Mimi was an Inspector of Area Courts from1989 to1991, Magistrate II and later Chief Magistrate I from 1991 to 2001. She was also at one time Director, Inspectorate of Area Courts from 2001-2008, Director of Litigation from 2008 to 2013 as well as Chief Registrar, High Court from 2013-2014. In October 2015, she was promoted High Court Judge in Benue State where she is till date.
A devout Christian with a heart of gold, Justice (Mrs.) Shija supports widows and orphans in Mbaduku, Vandeikya as well as those in Living Faith Makurdi financially. She also supports the Bible Society of Nigeria financially in printing and distribution of Bibles and also lends her support to the Child’s Rights Protection and Youth Motivation Initiative.
She has travelled to United Kingdom, United States of America and the Caribbean Islands. Justice Shija is a member of several professional and non-professional organizations, among which are, the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association, International Federation of Women Lawyers, International Association of Women Judges, Association of Women Judges of Nigeria and Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria.
She has received several awards for hard work and diligence right from her early days in school including Cross River State Scholarship for Excellent Performance, National Judicial Institute’s Award of Excellence as Resource Person, which she received in 2010.
