The National Judicial Council (NJC) has officially recommended Justice Kudirati Kekere-Ekun to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
This recommendation comes as the current CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, is set to retire next Thursday, August 22, 2024.
If approved, Justice Kekere-Ekun would make history as the second female CJN, following Justice Muktar Aloma, marking a pivotal moment for gender representation in Nigeria’s judicial system.
However, her path to the top post is not without controversy. The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has remained tight-lipped regarding allegations surrounding her Asset Declaration form.
According to a report by Leadership, Veronica Kato, the CCB’s press officer, refrained from commenting on ongoing investigations, emphasizing that details of any petitions are confidential.
The NJC’s recommendation was made during its 106th meeting, chaired by the outgoing CJN, where they also proposed 28 candidates for judicial appointments across various states, alongside a nominee for the Kadi of the Sharia Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Specifically, Kwara State saw six candidates recommended for its High Court, including Olawoyin Ibijoke Olabisi and Abdulrazaq Fatimah Funsho, while Rivers State had eight nominees, among them Onyiri Frank and Ugoji Victor Chinedum. Ondo and Benue states received six and four candidates, respectively, for judicial appointments.
Adding to the drama, the Oduduwa Descendants Coalition for Justice has lodged a formal petition against Justice Kekere-Ekun with the CCB, alleging false declarations of her assets during her tenure as a judicial officer, the report says.
The coalition’s national coordinator, Comrade Kehinde Johnson Olawale, emphasized the urgency of the investigation, stating that the allegations could significantly affect her eligibility for the CJN position.
The petition claims that Justice Kekere-Ekun failed to submit necessary asset declaration forms during her time as chairman of The Robbery and Firearms Tribunal in Lagos and as a Justice of the Court of Appeal.
The group insists that a thorough investigation is crucial, considering the potential implications for the integrity of the judiciary.
