Justice Kekere-Ekun Undergoes Senate Screening For Top Judicial Position

The Senate on Wednesday commenced the screening of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun for appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Other accompanying judges of the Supreme Court, judicial officers, and senior assistants to the president on National Assembly matters were also admitted into the chamber for screening and confirmation.

The development comes after President Bola Tinubu wrote the Senate on Tuesday, seeking the confirmation of  Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read Tinubu’s letter during plenary on Tuesday.

In the letter, Tinubu cited Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which empowers him to appoint the CJN based on recommendations from the National Judicial Council, pending Senate approval.

The President expressed confidence in her nomination and urged the Senate to act urgently.

“I hereby forward the nomination of Honourable 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 message to the lawmakers.

Senate President Akpabio then referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for deliberation on the next legislative sitting.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) in August recommended Justice Kekere-Ekun to President Tinubu as successor to the former CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

The 66-year-old jurist has been serving as the Acting CJN since Justice Ariwoola retired last month.

Kekere-Ekun is the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria and second Nigeria female jurist to serve in that position.

The first female to occupy the exalted seat was Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who was the CJN between July 2012 and November 2014.

Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom. Her journey in the legal profession commenced at the University of Lagos where she obtained her first degree in law in 1980.

After she completed the Nigeria Law School, she was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981.