In a ceremony held at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu officially swore in Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
The event was attended by notable dignitaries including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and several ministers such as Muhammed Idris (Information), Nyesom Wike (FCT), Lateef Fagbemi (Justice), and Zephaniah Jisalo (Special Duties).
Kekere-Ekun’s appointment as the substantive Chief Justice follows her confirmation by the Nigerian Senate last week.
She had been serving in an acting capacity since August, following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria and the second woman to hold this prestigious position, the first being Justice Alooma Mukhtar.
Born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom, Kekere-Ekun began her legal journey at the University of Lagos, where she earned her law degree in 1980.
She was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981, after completing her studies at the Nigeria Law School, before furthering her education at the London School of Economics, obtaining a Master of Law in November 1983.
Kekere-Ekun’s judicial career started as a Senior Magistrate II in the Lagos State Judiciary, eventually rising to the position of State High Court Judge.
She also chaired the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, from November 1996 to May 1999.
In 2004, she was appointed to the Court of Appeal, recognizing her significant contributions to the judiciary.
Her career progressed with her promotion to Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July 2013, while her dedication to the judiciary was honoured by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who awarded her with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in October 2022.
