President Bola Tinubu has officially sworn in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Friday, August 23, 2024. The ceremony, held at the State House in Abuja, marks a significant milestone as Justice Kekere-Ekun becomes the second female jurist to serve as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, following Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who held the position from July 2012 to November 2014.
Justice Kekere-Ekun was sworn in at approximately 11:38 AM in the presence of several dignitaries, including other Supreme Court Justices, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. She will serve in an acting capacity pending her confirmation by the Senate.
Justice Kekere-Ekun succeeds Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who has retired. Her appointment was recommended by the National Judicial Council, reflecting her esteemed judicial career and dedication to the Nigerian legal system.
Born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom, to Lagos State natives, Justice Kekere-Ekun is the eldest of eleven siblings. She completed her primary education in private schools before attending Queen’s College, Lagos, in 1970. She pursued her passion for law at the University of Lagos, graduating in 1980, and later attended the Nigerian Law School, where she was called to the Bar in July 1981. She also holds a master’s degree in law from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Justice Kekere-Ekun’s judicial career began in December 1989 as a Senior Magistrate Grade II in Lagos. Her competence led to her appointment as a Judge of the Lagos State High Court in 1996 and her subsequent elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2004. In July 2013, she became a Justice of the Supreme Court, making her the fifth and youngest female to achieve this position.
She has held various leadership roles, including serving as the pioneer Presiding Justice of the Makurdi Division and later as the Presiding Justice of the Akure Division of the Court of Appeal. Her contributions to the judiciary have been recognized with her appointment as a Life Bencher by the Body of Benchers in February 2018.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is married to Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, and they have three children together. Her swearing-in is seen as a continuation of her distinguished career, and she is expected to bring her extensive experience and expertise to her new role as Nigeria’s Chief Justice.
