President Tinubu Swears In Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun As Substantive CJN

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) during a ceremony at the State House’s Council Chamber in Abuja.

The event held on Monday, September 30, was attended by prominent figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and several ministers.

This appointment follows her recent confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

President Tinubu had initially appointed Kekere-Ekun as acting CJN in August after the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

Kudirat Kekere-Ekun now becomes the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria and only the second woman to hold this prestigious position, following Justice Alooma Mukhtar.

Born on May 7, 1958, in London, she earned her law degree from the University of Lagos in 1980 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981 after completing the Nigerian Law School.

She later obtained a Master of Law degree from the London School of Economics in 1983.

Her legal career began as a Senior Magistrate II in the Lagos State Judiciary, followed by her appointment as a State High Court Judge.

She also served as the chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal in Ikeja from 1996 to 1999. In 2004, she joined the Court of Appeal, and in 2013, she was elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

In recognition of her contributions to the judiciary, former President Muhammadu Buhari awarded her the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022.

This comes a few days after the Senate confirmed Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).