It was a significant moment in the history of Nigeria’s judicial system as President Bola Tinubu Swore Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Friday to become the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria, following in the footsteps of Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who held the position from July 2012
It was a significant moment in the history of Nigeria’s judicial system as President Bola Tinubu Swore Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Friday to become the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria, following in the footsteps of Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who held the position from July 2012 to November 2014.
The swearing ceremony took place in the State House in Abuja, in the presence of prominent figures in the country, including other Justices of the Supreme Court; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; members of the House of Representatives led by Prof Julius Ihonbvere; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu; and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Also present were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris
Meanwhile, the new CJN will serve in an acting capacity pending Senate confirmation, following the recommendation of the National Judicial Council during its 106th meeting to the president, as Kayode Ariwoola left the office as Chief Justice yesterday after reaching his retirement age.
The recommendation also followed the longstanding tradition in the Nigeria Judicial Council, as Kekere-Ekun is the next in line to the current Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Kekere-Ekun’s Journey in Nigeria’s Judiciary
Born on May 7th, 1958, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo KEKERE-EKUN CFR, JSC obtained her LL. B in 1980 from the University of Lagos and LL.M from the London School of Economic and Political Science in November 1983 and was called to the Nigerian Bar on 10th July 1981.
Before she was appointed a Senior Magistrate Grade 2 of the Lagos state Judiciary in December 1989, she was in private practice from 1985 to 1989. She was later appointed a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State on July 19, 1996, and served as Chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos, from November 1996 to May 1999.
On September 22, 2004, Hon. Justice Kekere-ekun was promoted to the Court of Appeal, where she served in several court divisions and as presiding justice of the Makurdi and Akure divisions in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
She was promoted to the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the 5th female Justice of the Court and was sworn in on Monday 8 July 2023.
Having done her part in the Nigeria and International judicial system where she has attended numerous courses and seminars within and outside Nigeria and also received several merit awards.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is the second woman to hold the highest judiciary position in the country after Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who was CJN between July 2012 and November 2014, spending 28 months in office.
