Senate screens acting CJN Justice Kekere-Ekun

The Senate, on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, commenced the screening of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun for appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

This is coming after President Bola Tinubu wrote the Senate on Tuesday, September 24, seeking the confirmation of Kekere-Ekun as the CJN.

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

Tinubu stated: “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.”

Akpabio, thereafter, referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for deliberation on the next legislative sitting.

Justice Kekere-Ekun: I’ll make Nigerians have more confidence in judiciary

The president sworn in Justice Kekere-Ekun as the 23rd and second female Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) in an acting capacity, pending confirmation by the Senate, on August 23.

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

Justice Ariwoola bowed out of the bench on August 22 after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Justice Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom.

The jurist graduated with a Law degree from the University of Lagos in 1980. She was subsequently admitted to the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981.

In her quest for further studies, she proceeded to the London School of Economics for a Master’s in Law which she completed in November 1983.

The acting CJN joined the Lagos State Judiciary as Senior Magistrate II after her return to Nigeria and rose to the level of State High Court Judge. She served as Chairman of Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja between November 1996 and May 1999.

Justice Kekere-Ekun was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2004 as Justice. After nine years at the appellate court, she was elevated to the Supreme Court as Justice in July 2013.

The Star