Nigeria Times

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.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to completing all abandoned and inherited projects across Nigeria. During an inspection tour of the Ogbese Multi-purpose Dam in Ekiti State on Thursday, Utsev emphasized that the administration is determined to ensure that these projects, which began but stalled due to funding issues, are brought to completion for the benefit of the citizens.

Construction on the Ogbese Dam, located along the Ikere Ekiti – Ise Ekiti Road, started in 2009 but was halted due to a lack of funds. However, the minister announced that President Tinubu has recently approved the necessary funding to complete the project, which is designed to provide water, generate hydroelectric power, and support irrigation.

Utsev noted that approximately 70% of the dam project is already completed, and the remaining work, including the installation of hydro-power components, will be finished soon. He highlighted that the dam is expected to generate about 4 megawatts of electricity, enhance irrigation, boost agriculture, and provide water to the surrounding communities.

The minister also pointed out that the administration has successfully commissioned several other dams and water supply schemes across the country, demonstrating its dedication to addressing the nation’s infrastructure needs.

The Director of Dams at the Ministry, Ali Dallah, confirmed that the available funds had been effectively utilized to achieve significant progress on the project. The Project Contractor, Mr. Fahd Jammal, expressed readiness to resume work as soon as additional funds are made available to complete the job.

The Ogbese Multi-purpose Dam project, awarded in 2009, is part of a broader initiative by the Federal Government to alleviate poverty and improve the lives of citizens in both rural and urban areas.

On Thursday, protesters from Ringim Local Government Area in Jigawa State marched to the Government House in Dutse, demanding the immediate removal of the state’s Agriculture Commissioner, Muttaka Namadi. The demonstrators, who are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), blocked the main entrance of the Government House, voicing their dissatisfaction with Namadi’s performance.

Hailing from Ringim LGA, Namadi has been accused by the protesters of failing to adequately represent his constituency in the state executive council. Abdullahi Muhammad, one of the protest organizers, expressed frustration over the commissioner’s lack of responsiveness to the needs of his constituents, despite repeated attempts to engage him.

Muhammad stated, “We have come here to formally lodge our complaints against the Commissioner for Agriculture, Muttaka Namadi, because of his poor representation of our community. We have spoken to him several times to carry everybody along in the area, but he turned a deaf ear to our demands.”

The protesters emphasized that their actions were in line with Governor Umar Namadi’s directive for political appointees to engage with and support their constituencies. They argued that the commissioner’s failure to do so had demoralized party members in the area.

In response, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mustapha Makama, and the state APC chairperson, Aminu Sani, received the protesters and promised to relay their concerns to Governor Umar Namadi. Sani urged the protesters to remain patient, assuring them that their complaints would be addressed in due course. He also praised the protesters for their peaceful conduct during the demonstration.

On Friday, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, condemned the murder of Isa Bawa, the Head of Gatawa District in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Sokoto State, calling it a “heinous and unacceptable” act. Bawa, who was kidnapped in July along with his son and six others while traveling from Sokoto to Sabon Birni near the Niger border, was later found dead after a ransom team encountered his body.

A video of the 74-year-old monarch pleading for his release had gone viral prior to his death. In response, Matawalle directed the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, to launch a thorough investigation and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Matawalle emphasized that security is a top priority for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, and assured the public that the Armed Forces would do everything necessary to capture those responsible for this crime. He also expressed his condolences to the family of the late district head, the people of Gatawa, and the Sokoto State Government.

The Minister of State for Education, Tanko Sununu, has formally requested the Ministry of Finance to disburse four months’ worth of withheld salaries to university workers under the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU).

This request follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval during a Federal Executive Council meeting on July 10, 2024, where he authorized the payment of four months’ salary from the eight months initially withheld after university workers went on an eight-month strike in 2022.

The previous administration, led by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, had enforced a “no work, no pay” policy, affecting both non-academic and academic staff, including those represented by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

While ASUU members have already received their payments, SSANU and NASU members are still awaiting their four-month salary payments. Despite a letter from Sununu to the Ministry of Finance on July 11, 2024, requesting the implementation of the presidential waiver, the funds have not yet been released.

This delay has caused significant frustration among SSANU and NASU members, who are urging the Federal Government to ensure they receive the same treatment as their academic counterparts. Six weeks after the approval, the workers continue to wait for their funds, with the Ministry of Finance yet to act on the President’s directive.