Justice Kekere-Ekun Confirmed as Nigeria’s Chief Justice

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun’s appointment as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday following screening.

The development comes after President Bola Tinubu wrote to the Senate on Tuesday, requesting her confirmation as the CJN.

Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, read Tinubu’s letter during plenary on Tuesday.

Tinubu referenced Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution in his letter, which allows him to select the CJN based on the National Judicial Council’s recommendations, subject to Senate confirmation.

The president expressed confidence in her nomination and asked the Senate to move quickly.

I am submitting the nomination of Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, CON, for confirmation as Chief Justice of Nigeria. In his statement to the parliamentarians, Tinubu remarked, “I trust that this request will be promptly considered and approved by the Senate.”

Senate President Akpabio then referred the nominee to the Committee of the Whole for consideration during the next legislative session.

In August, the National Judicial Council (NJC) nominated Justice Kekere-Ekun to President Tinubu as the successor to Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the previous Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Justice Ariwoola retired last month, and the 66-year-old jurist has been functioning as Acting CJN since.

Kekere-Ekun is Nigeria’s 23rd Chief Justice and the second Nigerian female jurist to hold the position.

Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who served as Chief Justice of the Nation from July 2012 until November 2014, was the first woman to hold the position.

Kekere-Ekun was born May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom. Her legal career began at the University of Lagos, where she earned her first degree in law in 1980.

On July 10, 1981, after graduating from Nigeria Law School, she was admitted to the Nigerian bar.