President Bola Tinubu will swear in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria on Friday, August 23, 2024. The ceremony was held at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja, as announced by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
Justice Kekere-Ekun will succeed Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who retired on Thursday upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. President Tinubu praised Ariwoola for his “successful public service career,” acknowledging his contributions to Nigerian jurisprudence and the judiciary.
Justice Ariwoola, who began his judicial career in the Court of Appeal and was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2011, served as Chief Justice of Nigeria since September 21, 2022. His tenure saw him lead the judiciary in various capacities.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended Justice Kekere-Ekun as Ariwoola’s successor last week. According to NJC spokesman Soji Oye, the recommendation followed the Council’s 106th meeting, which was chaired by Justice Ariwoola. The Supreme Court, with its full complement of 21 Justices, will see Justice Kekere-Ekun, the most senior Justice on the bench, take over the role.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, born on May 7, 1958, is a distinguished jurist. She earned her law degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1981. She furthered her education with an LL.M. from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1983.
Her legal career began as a private lawyer in Lagos before she was appointed a Senior Magistrate in December 1989. She became a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State in 1996 and later served as Chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal in Ikeja. She was elevated to the Court of Appeal in September 2004, serving in various divisions and as presiding Justice of the Makurdi and Akure divisions.
Justice Kekere-Ekun was appointed to the Supreme Court on July 8, 2013, becoming the fifth female Justice of the Court. She has attended numerous courses and seminars both in Nigeria and internationally and has received several merit awards. She is also a life Bencher and President of the International Association of Women Judges. Justice Kekere-Ekun is married with children.