Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun is set to become Nigeria’s second female Chief Justice today, following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. This monumental change comes after the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended Justice Kekere-Ekun for the position, which now awaits approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The NJC’s recommendation came during its 106th meeting, held on August 14 and 15, 2024, under the leadership of the outgoing Chief Justice, Justice Ariwoola.
This transition marks a significant step forward in the Nigerian judiciary, with Justice Kekere-Ekun poised to make history as only the second woman to hold the highest judicial position in the country, following Justice Mouktar Aloma, the first female Chief Justice.
Justice Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958. She earned her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree in 1980 from the University of Lagos and later obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M) from the London School of Economics in 1983. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1981, embarking on a legal career that has spanned over four decades.
She began her professional journey in private practice from 1985 to 1989 before transitioning to public service as a Senior Magistrate Grade II in the Lagos State Judiciary in December 1989. She became a Judge of the Lagos High Court in 1996, and later, she chaired the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal in Lagos between 1996 and 1999.
In 2004, Justice Kekere-Ekun was promoted to the Court of Appeal, where she served in various capacities, including presiding over two divisions. Her judicial excellence was further recognized when she was appointed as the fifth female Justice of the Supreme Court in 2023.
