Nigeria: Pres. Tinubu Swears in Kekere-ekun as CJN
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria, pending her confirmation by the Senate.
Kekere-Ekun, who took the oath of office and signed the oath register at 11.40 am at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, succeeds Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who bowed out of office yesterday, after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) had last week recommended Justice Kekere-Ekun to President Tinubu as Ariwoola’s successor.
What you Must Know About Justice Kekere-Ekun
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun is one of the top female Justices in the nation’s apex court.
Her current age, 66, gives her the privilege of being three country's CJN for the next four years. Kekere-ekun bagged her law degree from University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1981.
She obtained an LL.M. in November, 1983 from the London School of Economic and Political Science.
Justice Kekere-Ekun’s legal career started in Lagos as a private lawyer from 1985 to 1989.
In December 1989, she was appointed a Senior Magistrate Grade II, Lagos State Judiciary. She later became a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State on July 19, 1996 and served as Chairman Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos from November 1996 to May 1999.
Kekere-Ekun rose to the Court of Appeal on 22nd September 2004 where she served in various Divisions of the Court and as presiding Justice of two Divisions of the Court (Makurdi & Akure).
She got promoted to the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the 5th female Justice of the Court and was sworn in on Monday 8 July 2013.
The incoming CJN has attended numerous courses and seminars within and outside Nigeria and also received several merit awards.
Currently, she is a life Bencher and a member of the International Association of Women Judges and currently its President.
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