President Bola Tinubu is set to officially swear in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Friday.
This announcement was made by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement released on Thursday.
The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja, the nation’s capital. Justice Kekere-Ekun will be succeeding Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who retired on Thursday upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
President Tinubu extended his congratulations to the retiring Justice Ariwoola, lauding his distinguished career in public service and his significant contributions to Nigerian jurisprudence.
“President Bola Tinubu congratulates Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, as he retires as Chief Justice of Nigeria after a successful public service career,” the statement read. The President praised Ariwoola’s impactful leadership and dedication to strengthening the judicial system.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has had an illustrious career in the judiciary, serving as a Justice of the Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Enugu, and Lagos divisions before his elevation to the Supreme Court in 2011. He was appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria on September 21, 2022, by former President Muhammadu Buhari. Throughout his tenure, Justice Ariwoola held various significant judicial positions and contributed to the development of the legal system in Nigeria.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) had recommended Justice Kekere-Ekun to President Tinubu as the successor to Justice Ariwoola. The recommendation came following the Council’s 106th Meeting, which was presided over by Justice Ariwoola himself.
NJC spokesman Soji Oye confirmed this in a statement, emphasizing the necessity of the recommendation as Justice Ariwoola was set to retire.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, being the most senior Justice on the Supreme Court bench, was the natural successor to the outgoing CJN. The Supreme Court of Nigeria currently operates with a full complement of 21 Justices, adhering to the tradition of appointing the next most senior Justice as the Chief Justice.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, aged 66, was born on May 7, 1958. She obtained her law degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981. She furthered her studies at the London School of Economic and Political Science, earning an LL.M. in November 1983.
Her legal career commenced in Lagos as a private lawyer from 1985 to 1989. She was appointed Senior Magistrate Grade II in the Lagos State Judiciary in December 1989 and later became a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State on July 19, 1996. During her tenure, she served as Chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos from November 1996 to May 1999.
Justice Kekere-Ekun was elevated to the Court of Appeal on September 22, 2004, where she served in various divisions and as the presiding Justice of the Makurdi and Akure divisions. She was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the 5th female Justice on July 8, 2013.
Throughout her career, Justice Kekere-Ekun has participated in numerous courses and seminars both locally and internationally and received various merit awards. She is a life Bencher and a member of the International Association of Women Judges, currently serving as its President.
This transition marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s judicial history as Justice Kekere-Ekun steps into the role of Chief Justice, bringing her extensive experience and commitment to the highest judicial office in the country.
