The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the most senior justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). Justice Kekere-Ekun, the 23rd CJN, was confirmed after fielding questions from senators for more than two hours. She has held the office since August in acting capacity. President Bola
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the most senior justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Justice Kekere-Ekun, the 23rd CJN, was confirmed after fielding questions from senators for more than two hours. She has held the office since August in acting capacity.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday asked the Senate to screen and confirm Justice Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) following the retirement of her predecessor, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. The President’s request was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, during plenary.
President Tinubu, in his letter to the lawmakers, urged them to consider the screening and confirmation expeditiously. According to him, his request was under section 231 (1) of the constitution.
“Under 231(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 as amended which gives the power to the president to appoint the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on the recommendation of the National Judicial Commission (NJC) and subject to confirmation of the Nigerian Senate.
During the confirmation hearing, Justice Kekere-Ekun answered questions on the reforms she hopes to introduce as the head of the judicial arm of government. She said should encourage the use of virtual proceedings and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) systems to decongest the correctional facilities across the country.
Her words: “I will ensure that the courts are digitized. It will make it easier to track cases and judges could be called to order if they are not treating their cases expeditiously”.
Specifically, she said: “Especially in criminal matters where you have delays, we will use virtual hearing. It is something I will encourage so that criminal matters will be disposed of expeditiously. “I will employ the use of ADR to decongest matters in the courts. In the courts, there is always a victor and a vanquished, but in ADR all the parties will go home satisfied.
“We are exploring ways to ensure that prison decongestion is frequently carried out. Virtual hearings will help fast-track cases, the failure to produce defendants is usually the delay in criminal cases”, she stressed.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, majority leader of the Senate, said there was no petition against the nomination of Justice Kekere-Ekun as the substantive CJN.
Justice Kekere-Ekun was confirmed after her nomination was put to a voice vote by Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
