We’ll elevate judiciary to new heights, says Kekere-Ekun
…..as Tinubu swears in new acting CJN
Following her swearing-in as the new Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has said she will strive to make Nigerians have more confidence in the judiciary while vowing to elevate the judiciary to new heights and improve its reputation.
The Informant247 gathered that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on Friday sworn in Justice Kekere-Ekun as the acting CJN, following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, making her the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria if the Senate confirms her appointment.
The new acting Chief Justice, who took the oath of office and signed the oath register at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, succeeds retired Justice Ariwoola, who assumed office on June 27, 2022, and retired from office after attaining the mandatory age of 70 years.
However, shortly after her swearing-in, the acting CJN, while speaking with journalists, said, “We will make sure that people have more confidence in the judiciary, and I believe that it is not a one-man job. We all have to be on board because we all see the areas that are in need of improvement. I believe that there will be maximum cooperation because we all want to see a better judiciary.
“A better judiciary is for the benefit of the entire nation. Whatever the shortcomings that we see today are, we are all members of the society, so, if we want to see a better society, if we want to see improvement, let the improvement start with each and every one of us and our approach to justice.
“Let us all have faith in the system and then also be particular about the process of appointment; I know it is a source of a lot of concern, the issue of discipline on the bench and at the bar as well.
“All of these things are aspects that we will look into, and I believe that by the grace of God, at the end of my tenure, we should be able to have a judiciary that we will all be proud of.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio witnessed Justice Kekere-Ekun’s swearing-in; the immediate past CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; former CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed; justices of the Supreme Court; senior judicial officers; and some members of the Federal Executive Council.
The family of the acting CJN, led by her spouse, Akin Kekere-Ekun, was also present at the State House Council Chamber.
Back story
Lagos Judge Kudirat Kekere-Ekun recommended as CJN
Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun has been recommended to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
NJC spokesman Soji Oye, while disclosing this in a statement issued on Thursday, said the decision to appoint Kekere Ekun was taken following the Council’s 106th Meeting presided over by the outgoing CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
According to him, the meeting was held on August 14 and 15 in Abuja, just seven days before the retirement of Justice Ariwoola as the CJN.
The Informant247 gathered that Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who was appointed as the CJN on September 21, 2022, by former President Muhammadu Buhari, is billed to bow out on August 22, when he will attain the mandatory retirement age of 70.
The statement read: “The NJC also “recommend twenty-seven (27) candidates for appointment as Judges of States Courts and a candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja to their various State Governors and Mr. President.”
“NJC recommends Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR, as the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and Twenty-eight (28) others as Judges of various Courts
“The National Judicial Council at its 106th Meeting presided over by the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, held on 14 & 15 August 2024, recommended Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“This is imperative as Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, will formally bow out of office as the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria next week, Thursday, 22 August 2024.
“Council also recommend twenty-seven (27) candidates for appointment as Judges of States Courts and a candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja to their various State Governors and Mr. President as follows:
CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA
Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR
SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF KWARA STATE
Olawoyin, Ibijoke Olabisi
Abdulrazaq, Fatimah Funsho
Folorunsho, Oba Muritala
Dikko, Yusuf Adebayo
Adeniyi, Oluwatosin Adenike
Osuolale-Ajayi, Temitope Olalekan
ONE JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KADUNA STATE
Zubairu, Murtala Ja’afaru
FOUR JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF BENUE STATE
Kor, Vincent Tersoo
Ikwulono, Maigida Maimuna
Adagba, Nguhemen Julie
Tor, Damian Tersugh
TWO JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, BENUE STATE
Onche, Ogah Inalegwu
Igba, Theophilus Terhile
EIGHT JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF RIVERS STATE
Onyiri, Frank
Ugoji, Victor Chinedum
Obomanu, Godswill Vidal
Oguguo, Rita Chituru
Fubara, Alatuwo Elkanah
Kokpan, Bariyima Sylvester
Obu, Ibietela Innocent Madighi
Wifa-Adedipe, Lesi
SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF ONDO STATE
Daomi, Williams Adebisi
Fabuluje, Adewumi William
Ogunwumiju, Mobayonle Idowu
Demehin-Ogunbayo, Inumidun Happiness
Kpemi, Ojufisintei Justinah
Adegoroye, Olufunke Adeola
ONE KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, FCT ABUJA
Muhammad, Lawal Munir
“All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective State Governors.”
Short bio
Kekere-Ekun joined the Lagos State Judiciary as Senior Magistrate II and rose to the position of the State High Court Judge.
She served as Chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, between November 1996 and May 1999. She was appointed to the bench of the Nigerian courts of appeal in 2004 before she was appointed Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July 2013.
