KEY POINTS
- On the Same Year Kudirat Kekere-Ekun is appointed as the second female Chief justice of Nigeria.
- She pledged to reduce corruption and also fast tracking of the court petition.
- Her confirmation follows the nomination of Bola Tinubu as the President of the Senate, and the name topping the list.
The Nigerian Senate has approved Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the CJN. This makes her the second female jurist in Nigeria. Her confirmation came after intense scrutiny by the Senate in a Committee of the Whole on Wednesday.
Entering office as the new CJN is Justice Kekere-Ekun, who was previously the Acting CJN. This appointment followed the retirement of Justice Ariwoola from the position.
Screening process and confirmation
The screening began at 12:47 pm and ended at 2:41 pm. It observed Kekere-Ekun in the company of justices from the apex court. Justices from the Supreme Court and the second appellate court, Court of Appeal, also represented themselves. The Special Adviser to the President on Senate, Senator Basheer Lado, accompanied her into the Senate Chamber. The Senate prioritized her confirmation as the business of the day.
No tolerance for corruption and judiciary restructuring
Responding to questions from the Senators, Kekere-Ekun pledged to maintain high ethical standards. She promised to bring a zero-tolerance policy on corruption to the judiciary division. She also touched on shielding the judiciary from interference and ensuring efficient processing of petitions presented to the courts.
“Often, I was described as punctual and rigid,” Kekere-Ekun said. She emphasized her commitment to integrity and promptness.
She also promised to advance better welfare and infrastructure for the judiciary. Kekere-Ekun pointed out that necessary efforts should be made to improve national institutions and public conduct. These efforts aim to reduce issues in electoral law.
Historical significance and journey to CJN
The confirmation of Kekere-Ekun as CJN is a momentous epoch in the Nigerian judiciary. She is the second woman to be appointed as CJN. The first was Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who held the post between 2012 and 2014.
According to The Punch, President Bola Tinubu had earlier forwarded her nomination to the Senate for confirmation, as provided by Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution. This section gives the President the power to appoint the CJN after the recommendation of the NJC.
Justice Kekere-Ekun was sworn in as the Acting CJN on August 23, 2024. This appointment followed her selection by President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. Born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom, she holds a University of Lagos law degree. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981.
