Senate Confirms Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun As New Chief Justice Of Nigeria

The Senate confirmed Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Wednesday, following her screening.

This confirmation came after President Bola Tinubu formally requested the Senate’s approval on Tuesday.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio read Tinubu’s letter during the plenary session on Tuesday, in which the President cited Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution.

This section grants the President authority to appoint the CJN, subject to recommendations from the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Senate approval.

Tinubu expressed his confidence in Justice Kekere-Ekun’s nomination and urged the Senate to act swiftly.

In his letter, Tinubu stated, “I hereby forward the nomination of Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, CON, for confirmation as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. I trust that this request will receive the Senate’s prompt consideration and approval.”

Akpabio then referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for discussion at the next legislative sitting.

Justice Kekere-Ekun had been recommended by the NJC in August to succeed Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who recently retired.

At 66 years old, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun had been serving as Acting CJN since Ariwoola’s retirement last month.

She becomes Nigeria’s 23rd Chief Justice and the second woman to hold the position, following Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who served as CJN from July 2012 to November 2014.

Born on May 7, 1958, in London, Justice Kekere-Ekun began her legal career at the University of Lagos, earning a law degree in 1980. After completing her studies at the Nigeria Law School, she was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981.

KanyiDaily recalls that in 2022, former president Muhammadu Buhari swore in Justice Ariwoola Olukayode as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).