The Nigeria Senate has confirmed Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN. Her confirmation comes after hours of screening by Nigerian senators on Wednesday.With the confirmation, Kekere-Ekun becomes the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) in August recommended Justice Kekere-Ekun to President Tinubu to succeed the former CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoolaate
During Tuesday’s plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Tinubu’s letter.
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In the letter, Tinubu referenced Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides him the power to appoint the CJN subject to Senate confirmation and in accordance with the National Judicial Council’s recommendations.
The President asked the Senate to act promptly and expressed confidence in her nomination.
In his letter to the lawmakers Tinubu said,” I thus recommend that Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, CON, be confirmed as Nigeria’s Chief Justice. “I trust that the Senate would look into and approve my recommendation quickly.
The nomination was then referred to the Committee of the Whole by Senate President Akpabio for consideration during the next legislative session.
The 66-year-old judge has been acting as the Chief Justice of the Nation since Justice Ariwoola retired last month.
Kekere-Ekun is the second female Nigerian jurist to hold the office of Chief Justice, making her the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria.
From July 2012 until November 2014, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar served as the Chief Justice of Nigeria and was the first woman to hold the esteemed office.
Kekere-Ekun was born on the 7th of May 1958 in London, England. Her legal career began in 1980 at the University of Lagos, where she graduated with her first degree in law.
On July 10, 1981, she was admitted to the Nigerian Bar following her graduation from the Nigeria Law School.
