On Wednesday, the Senate began the screening process for Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun for confirmation as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN.
Supreme Court justices, judicial officers, and senior aides to the president responsible for National Assembly matters were also present in the chamber for their screening and confirmation. This follows President Bola Tinubu’s formal request to the Senate on Tuesday, seeking the approval of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria.
During the Senate plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter, which invoked Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution. This section grants the president the authority to appoint the CJN based on recommendations from the National Judicial Council, pending Senate confirmation. In his letter, Tinubu expressed confidence in Justice Kekere-Ekun’s capabilities and urged the Senate to expedite the approval process.
“I hereby forward the nomination of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, CON, for confirmation as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. I trust that this request will receive the Senate’s prompt consideration and approval,” Tinubu stated in his communication to the lawmakers.
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Following this, Senate President Akpabio referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for discussion during the next legislative session. Justice Kekere-Ekun was recommended for this position by the National Judicial Council in August, succeeding the former CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
At 66 years old, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has been serving as the Acting CJN since the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola last month.
Kekere-Ekun is notably the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria and the second female jurist to hold this esteemed position. The first woman to assume this role was Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who served as CJN from July 2012 to November 2014.
Born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom, Kekere-Ekun began her legal career at the University of Lagos, where she earned her first degree in law in 1980. After completing her studies at the Nigerian Law School, she was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981.
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