President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) at a ceremony held at the State House in Abuja. The swearing-in took place around 11:38 AM and marked a historic moment as Kekere-Ekun becomes the second woman to serve as Nigeria’s Chief Justice, following Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who held the position from July 2012 to November 2014.
Kekere-Ekun’s appointment follows the retirement of the previous Chief Justice, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. She will serve in an acting capacity until her appointment is confirmed by the Nigerian Senate, a step expected to follow in the coming weeks.
The ceremony was attended by a number of high-profile dignitaries, including several Justices of the Supreme Court, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other leaders from the National Assembly. Other prominent figures present included Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the immediate past Chief Justice, Olukayode Ariwoola, and top officials such as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Born on May 7, 1958, in London to a Lagosian family, Justice Kekere-Ekun has had a long and distinguished career in the Nigerian judiciary. She earned her law degree from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in 1980 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981. Her academic journey continued in the UK, where she obtained a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 1983.
Her professional career began as a Senior Magistrate in Lagos in 1989, and by 1996, she had risen to become a High Court judge. Her ascent continued with an appointment to the Court of Appeal in 2004, serving in various regions across Nigeria before her promotion to the Supreme Court in 2013.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is well respected for her leadership and dedication to the judiciary, having held numerous leadership roles, including serving on the Supreme Court Rules Committee and chairing important tribunals. In recognition of her contributions to the legal profession, she was honored as a Life Bencher by the Body of Benchers in 2018.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is married to Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, and they have three children together.
