Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Nigeria by President Bola Tinubu in a ceremony held at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.
Justice Kekere-Ekun was confirmed for the position by the Senate last week, following the president’s recommendation. She previously served as acting Chief Justice after the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
The event was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and several ministers, including Muhammed Idris (Information), Nyesom Wike (FCT), Lateef Fagbemi (Justice), and Zephaniah (Special Duties).
Who is Chief Justice Kekere-Ekun?
Justice Kekere-Ekun is a trailblazer in the judiciary and one of the few women to reach the highest ranks of the Nigerian legal system, following Justice Alooma Mukhtar. She is the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom, she earned her LLB from the University of Lagos in 1980 and was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981. She later obtained her Master of Laws from the London School of Economics in November 1983.
Justice Kekere-Ekun began her judicial career as a Senior Magistrate II in the Lagos State Judiciary before being promoted to State High Court Judge. She served as the chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, from November 1996 to May 1999.
In 2004, she was appointed to the Court of Appeal in recognition of her contributions to the judiciary, and she was promoted to the Supreme Court in July 2013.
Her service to the judiciary was recognized in October 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari, who awarded her the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).
Justice Kekere-Ekun’s achievements serve as an inspiration for women in the legal profession and throughout the country, demonstrating that diligence leads to recognition and success.
