Justice Ishaq Usman Bello (born 5 January 1956) is a Nigerian jurist, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and Nigeria's nominated candidate for the 2020 judicial elections of the International Criminal Court based in The Hague, Netherlands.

[2] Ishaq Usman Bello began his legal practice at a private law firm, Umaru Yabo & co, in Sokoto State.

[citation needed] Following his first temporary transfer which happened between 1987 and 1989, Bello returned to the bench in 1990 to serve as acting chief magistrate and then later as chief magistrate in 1992, after which he went on another temporary transfer to join the Board of River Basin Authority in Minna, Niger State, as a secretary and legal adviser.

[1] Bello began his journey as a federal attorney in 1995 following his appointment as a deputy chief registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

[6] During this period, Bello presided over several high-profile cases, including the State vs Francis Okoye and Others following an assassination attempt on the life of the late Dora Akunyili, the then director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

[10][11] "The two defendants have no regard for the sanctity of human lives," Judge Bello was quoted by AFP news agency as telling the court.

[12] Justice Ishaq Bello's appointment as the substantive Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory was confirmed on 28 May 2015.

[20] Bello has been nominated to be Nigeria's candidate for the 2020 judicial elections of the International Criminal Court based in The Hague, Netherlands.