Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun has officially been sworn in as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a ceremony held at the State House, Abuja. The swearing-in took place at approximately 11:38 AM, with Justice Kekere-Ekun assuming her seat in the Council Chambers alongside the President at 11:45 AM.
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Justice Kekere-Ekun will serve as the Chief Justice in an acting capacity until her appointment is confirmed by the Senate. Her elevation to this esteemed position follows the recent retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. The National Judicial Council (NJC) had nominated her and presented her name to President Tinubu on August 15.
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Justice Kekere-Ekun is now the second female jurist in Nigeria’s history to hold the office of Chief Justice, following in the footsteps of Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who served from July 2012 to November 2014.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by several high-profile dignitaries, including Justices of the Supreme Court, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House of Representatives leadership represented by Prof. Julius Ihonbvere. Also present were Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the immediate past CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
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Other notable attendees included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom. She began her legal journey at the University of Lagos, where she earned her law degree in 1980. After completing her studies at the Nigerian Law School, she was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981. Furthering her education, she obtained a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics in November 1983.
Justice Kekere-Ekun’s judicial career started in the Lagos State Judiciary, where she served as a Senior Magistrate II. She later ascended to the position of State High Court Judge and also chaired the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, from November 1996 to May 1999. Her significant contributions to the judiciary led to her appointment to the Court of Appeal in 2004.
Her ascension to the role of CJN marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s judicial history, further solidifying her reputation as a trailblazer in the legal profession.
