President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) at a ceremony held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.
The event marks an important transition in Nigeria’s judiciary, with Justice Kekere-Ekun becoming only the second female Chief Justice in the country’s history.
The ceremony took place at the State House, shortly after President Tinubu’s return to Nigeria in the early hours of Friday.
The swearing-in was a formal acknowledgment of Justice Kekere-Ekun’s new role, succeeding Olukayode Ariwoola, who retired from the position on Thursday after just two years in office.
Justice Kekere-Ekun’s appointment follows a recommendation from the National Judicial Council (NJC).
In his remarks, President Tinubu urged the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria to defend the independence of the judiciary and promote the cause of justice.
The justice will serve in acting capacity pending confirmation by the senate.
The President emphasised the importance of strengthening mechanisms that will uphold and enhance integrity, discipline, and transparency in the judiciary.
”Undoubtedly, the position of the Chief Justice of Nigeria comes with enormous responsibilities as the head of all judicial institutions in the country. It is a position of considerable influence that demands temperance and sobriety.
”The occupant of the office must exude the highest level of integrity in the discharge of their duties. This is more so because of the finality of the Supreme Court’s judgments.
”I, therefore, urge your Lordship to be faithful and loyal to the Constitution when discharging your duty as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.
”I also encourage you to defend the judiciary’s independence and always promote the cause of justice. It is vital that you strengthen all mechanisms for integrity, discipline, and transparency in the judicial sector, and pursue other reforms or initiatives to sustain and build public confidence in the judiciary,” the President stated.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, born on May 7, 1958, has had a distinguished career in law. She earned her LL.B from the University of Lagos in 1980 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1981.
She became a Life Bencher, a prestigious honour, before her elevation to the Supreme Court as its fifth female justice in July 2013.
As the next most senior justice of the Supreme Court, she was deemed the most qualified candidate for the role of Chief Justice.
President Tinubu also lauded the contributions of Justice Kekere-Ekun to the judiciary, noting that she is coming to the position with an admirable family and professional pedigree.
”Over the years, she has established a respectable and incorruptible reputation within the bar and the bench, which asserts the cause of justice.
”Her meritorious rise from a magistrate to justice of the Supreme Court is a testament to her exceptional talent, hard work, unblemished record, strong work ethic, and dedication to her calling as a priest in the temple of justice.
”Her sterling contribution to the growth of the Nigerian judiciary has been remarkable. We are inspired by her unwavering commitment to a higher ideal of upholding the principles of fairness and a strong commitment to humanity.
”Justice Kekere-Ekun is a brilliant lawyer who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981. She’s now a trailblazer becoming the second woman to hold this esteemed position after Honourable Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, GCON,” the President said.
Speaking to the media after the swearing-in, the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria pledged to elevate the judiciary to new heights, improve its reputation, and sustain public confidence in the judicial system.
”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,” the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria said.
Justice Kekere-Ekun takes over from Justice Kayode Ariwoola, who, despite a brief tenure, faced various challenges, including calls for judicial reform and increased transparency.
The event was witnessed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio; the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed; justices of the Supreme Court, senior judicial officers, and the family of the acting of Chief Justice of Nigeria, led by her spouse, Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun.
