Hon. Justice Lilian Abai, the Honourable Chief Judge of Abia State, was born on 6th July, 1960, to the family of the late Mr. Awa Abai, a chartered accountant of repute. She hails from Elu, in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.

She obtained her legal education at the University of Lagos, and thereafter attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, where she was trained and qualified to practise law in Nigeria.

Justice Abai commenced her professional career in 1986 at the law firm of U. U. Uche & Associates. In 1987, she was appointed Magistrate Grade II in the Imo State Judiciary, where she served with distinction and rose through the ranks to the position of Chief Magistrate.

Following the creation of Abia State in 1991, she was deployed to the Abia State Judiciary, where she continued her judicial career. She was elevated to the High Court Bench in June 2004. In October 2022, she was appointed Acting Chief Judge of Abia State, and subsequently confirmed as the Substantive Chief Judge of Abia State on 5th May, 2023.

Throughout her judicial career, Justice Abai has served in various capacities, including membership of Election Petition Tribunals, panels of inquiry, and judicial and administrative committees. She has also served as Administrative Judge in both the Aba and Umuahia Judicial Divisions.

She has attended numerous judicial workshops, seminars, and conferences, both locally and internationally, in furtherance of professional development and judicial excellence.

Hon. Justice Lilian Abai has enjoyed an illustrious legal and judicial career spanning over 42 years. She is a Member, Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute (NJI); Member, Education Committee of the NJI; and Member, National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria (NAWJN).

She is blessed with children and grandchildren, and in her leisure time, she enjoys reading and travelling.