Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has officially taken office as Nigeria’s 23rd Chief Justice, following her swearing-in by President Bola Tinubu in a ceremony held at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja on Monday. This comes after her confirmation by the Nigerian Senate on 25 September 2024.
During the ceremony, Justice Kekere-Ekun took the oath of office and signed the necessary documents to formalize her new role as the head of the country’s judiciary. With this appointment, she becomes the second woman to ever hold the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), following in the footsteps of Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who served from 2012 to 2014.
Justice Kekere-Ekun steps into this role following the retirement of her predecessor, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. Justice Ariwoola served as the Chief Justice from 27 June 2022 until his retirement on 22 August 2024, when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 years, as set by Nigeria’s constitution.
President Tinubu, while speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, expressed his confidence in Justice Kekere-Ekun’s ability to lead the judiciary, stating that her years of service and experience would greatly contribute to upholding justice and the rule of law in Nigeria. He emphasized the importance of the judiciary in safeguarding democracy and ensuring fairness in the legal system.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, who was first appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2013, has had a distinguished career in the judiciary, serving in various capacities and earning a reputation for integrity and fairness in her judgments.
