The Senate, has confirmed the appointment of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria. This comes after what can only be described as a formal nod to President Bola Tinubu’s request, which he oh-so-graciously sent on Tuesday, urging them to hurry up and make it official.
What They Are saying
Tinubu, in his usual “democratic” fashion, leaned on Section 231(1) of the Constitution, which essentially gives him the power to appoint whoever the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommends, pending the Senate’s stamp of approval.
In his message to the lawmakers, Tinubu confidently gushed, “I hereby forward the nomination of Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, CON, for confirmation as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.” And of course, he trusted the Senate would give this request the VIP treatment it deserves. Because why not?
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, always eager to please, wasted no time referring the matter to the Committee of the Whole, where presumably, the decision to confirm her was made in record time. What a well-oiled machine!
Now, let’s not forget the National Judicial Council had already paved the way back in August, recommending Justice Kekere-Ekun to Tinubu as the next CJN after Justice Olukayode Ariwoola gracefully retired.
Why It Matters
At 66, Kekere-Ekun has been the Acting CJN since last month, because, Nigeria needs a steady hand at the helm of its judicial system, especially someone who has already been doing the job for a while. With her confirmation, she becomes Nigeria’s 23rd Chief Justice and only the second woman to ever hold that position. Shoutout to Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar for breaking that glass ceiling first from 2012 to 2014.
Kekere-Ekun’s illustrious legal career began all the way back in 1980 when she graduated from the University of Lagos with a law degree. A year later, in 1981, she was called to the Nigerian Bar. Clearly, her journey from London-born student to the highest judicial officer in the land has been anything but ordinary.
Bottom Line
So there you have it, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, officially confirmed as Chief Justice of Nigeria, ensuring the wheels of justice keep spinning, whether they’re clean or not, that’s another story.
