The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) after a successful screening. The confirmation follows a request by President Bola Tinubu, who formally nominated Kekere-Ekun for the role on Tuesday.
During Tuesday’s plenary session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read out President Tinubu’s letter, which cited Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution. This section empowers the president to appoint a Chief Justice based on recommendations from the National Judicial Council (NJC), pending Senate approval.
In his message, Tinubu expressed confidence in Kekere-Ekun’s capabilities, urging the Senate to act swiftly. “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,” the president’s letter read.
Following the announcement, Senate President Akpabio referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for immediate deliberation during the next legislative session.
The NJC had recommended Kekere-Ekun in August, after the retirement of former CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. At 66, Kekere-Ekun had already been serving as the Acting Chief Justice since Ariwoola’s departure last month. She now becomes the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria and the second woman to hold the position, following in the footsteps of Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who served from 2012 to 2014.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, born in London on May 7, 1958, began her illustrious legal career at the University of Lagos, where she earned her law degree in 1980. She was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981, after completing her training at the Nigerian Law School.
Her confirmation marks a historic moment for Nigeria’s judiciary, solidifying her position as one of the country’s most respected legal minds.
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