What was your path into law and onto the bench?
I was born and raised in Nigeria in a middle-class family that placed a profound emphasis on education and service. My father is an engineer, and my mother was a lawyer whose deepest passion and calling was education. I am the only daughter, with four brothers.
Our home was anchored in learning, discipline, and excellence. From an early age, I was taught to live a life marked by compassion and purpose — to make a meaningful difference wherever I found myself. These values were not merely spoken; they were demonstrated in how my parents lived.
A defining feature of my childhood was an enduring pursuit of knowledge. I grew up surrounded by books. My mother cherished them: novels, biographies, encyclopedias, the Guinness Book of World Records, Shakespeare collections, etc., and our home was filled with them. I was rarely without a book in hand. Reading expanded my imagination and exposed me to ideas and worlds far beyond my immediate environment.
Curiosity was encouraged, but answers were not handed out. If I asked about the meaning of a word, I was told, “Go bring the dictionary.” That meant locating the word, understanding its meaning, exploring its antonyms and synonyms, sometimes tracing its origin, and learning how it was properly used. For idiomatic expressions, I was expected to understand the history behind the phrase. At times, I wrote short essays to ensure full comprehension. Research and going to primary sources became instinctive habits; skills that continue to shape my professional life.
My mother firmly believed that education was the greatest gift she could give her children. She insisted that we pursue admission into the best institutions available to us. Equally, she instilled in us the conviction that excellence creates opportunity. She would often say that there is always room at the top. We were expected to strive for excellence in every environment, trusting that diligence and integrity would make a way.
Although I did not grow up in one of Nigeria’s larger metropolitan centres, academic merit afforded me access to leading institutions. I attended Queen’s College, Lagos, and later gained admission to study law at the University of Lagos.
The decision to study law was a natural one. I was drawn to reading, research, and writing, and I desired a profession through which I could serve others. Law is undertaken as a first degree in Nigeria. I graduated as class silver medalist and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School for professional training, where I graduated with First Class Honours — one of five graduates nationwide that year to do so.
I began my professional career as a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Lagos before relocating to Edmonton on a full scholarship to pursue a Master of Laws degree at the University of Alberta.
Following completion of my LL.M., I worked as a research lawyer at Brownlee LLP, a policy analyst with Alberta Justice, and later as a Regulatory Compliance Specialist at ATB Financial. In order to complete my accreditation as a foreign-trained lawyer, I articled and was called to the Alberta Bar in 2012.
I initially practiced in a space-sharing arrangement before establishing Tisel Law. While my early practice was general in nature, I later concentrated on family law, child welfare, and immigration matters (hearings and appeals).
After more than a decade of practice in these areas, I came to understand that my experience and temperament could be of service on the bench. That view was affirmed over time by colleagues and opposing counsel. In 2025, I was appointed to the bench, becoming the first African-born woman appointed to the Alberta Court of Justice.
The significance of that appointment extends beyond the individual. It reflects the continued evolution of the judiciary and affirms the importance of institutions that reflect the diversity, experiences, and aspirations of the communities they serve. Representation within public institutions strengthens confidence, broadens perspective, and reinforces the principle that opportunity and service are not limited by origin.
The appointment was both humbling and affirming. It marked not only a professional milestone, but a continuation of a lifelong commitment to public service and to strengthening public confidence in the administration of justice.
What experience in your legal career best prepared you for work on the bench?
I articled in a criminal defence firm that accepted predominantly legal aid files. My principal, Laurie Wood, approached every matter — regardless of its profile — with equal diligence and humanity.
My articling year was transformative. It broadened my understanding of the law and deepened my awareness of the social realities that intersect with the justice system. Through that work, I encountered clients facing addiction, mental health challenges, homelessness, and the intergenerational impacts of residential schools.
Early successes — securing bail or resolving matters favourably — were often followed by the sobering realization that systemic challenges remained. It was an education not only in law, but in perspective.
Laurie modeled advocacy grounded in dignity. She treated every client with respect and kindness, recognizing their humanity beyond the immediate charges before the court. I recall her explaining FASD and reminding me that none of us chooses the circumstances of our birth. That insight has remained with me.
From that year, I also learned that a lawyer’s reputation is among their most valuable assets, and that professionalism toward opposing counsel and the court is foundational to the proper functioning of the justice system.
After my call to the bar, I served as duty counsel in correctional institutions and practiced criminal law, child welfare, and family law. Over time, I observed how deeply interconnected these areas were. Individuals navigating criminal proceedings were often simultaneously engaged in family disputes or child welfare matters. Legal issues rarely existed in isolation.
I built a practice that primarily served legal aid clients. I was fortunate to engage in work that aligned closely with my sense of purpose.
For over a decade, I practiced before the Provincial Court — now the Alberta Court of Justice — refining my advocacy and learning from the judges before whom I appeared. It is a distinct honour to now serve on that same court.
My work in family and child welfare law most directly prepared me for judicial responsibilities. Those areas demand legal precision, emotional steadiness, and clarity of reasoning.
These matters often arise during profoundly vulnerable periods in people’s lives. As counsel, I learned the importance of careful listening, identifying the core issues, and maintaining composure in emotionally charged circumstances. I also learned that process matters. When individuals feel heard, they are more likely to accept decisions, even difficult ones.
Operating my own practice reinforced discipline and accountability. Thorough preparation was not optional; it was essential.
Representing clients from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds heightened my awareness of how differently individuals experience legal institutions. It reinforced the importance of accessible reasoning and respectful courtroom engagement.
Judicial work requires impartiality, decisiveness, and empathy — exercised without partiality. My years in practice required balancing advocacy with pragmatism. That balance continues to inform my approach.
What advice to you have for counsel who appear before you?
Preparation is among the clearest demonstrations of respect counsel can show the court and their clients.
Effective advocacy is disciplined and focused. Identifying the governing legal principles, applying them thoughtfully to the evidence, and presenting concise submissions are far more persuasive than volume alone.
Civility is essential. The courtroom is a professional forum. Disagreement is expected; discourtesy is not.
Credibility is invaluable. Candour regarding both the strengths and weaknesses of a case enhances trust and assists the court in reaching principled decisions.
Counsel are advocates for their clients and officers of the court. The integrity of the justice system depends on that dual responsibility.
What do you wish the public knew about the justice system?
It is easy to evaluate the justice system by the inconvenience it brings to our ordinary lives, or by the unavoidable pain that some outcomes bring. But I suggest a different starting point.
The justice system is a guardrail that society chooses to place upon its own instincts so that society itself remains liveable. To appreciate the role of the justice system, we need only imagine how quickly things would unravel in its total absence, or if it were reduced to something painless and weightless; an institution that could soothe, but could no longer hold the line, especially in those times when pain is the cost of order.