- Kudirat Kekere-Ekun officially assumed the role of acting Chief Justice of Nigeria
- Kekere-Ekun is the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria, following Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar
- She was nominated by the National Judicial Council (NJC) and presented to President Tinubu on August 15
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has been officially appointed as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, succeeding Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Kekere-Ekun was sworn in at approximately 11:38 am and promptly took her designated seat to the left of the President at 11:45 am on Friday, August 23.
Kekere-Ekun to serve as acting CJN until Senate confirmation
The ceremony was held in the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, where Kekere-Ekun will serve in an acting capacity until the Senate confirms her appointment.
The ceremony was attended by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwoolu, former Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and several Supreme Court justices.
Other notable attendees
Also in attendance were George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser; Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President; and Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) nominated Kekere-Ekun and presented her to President Tinubu on August 15.
Kekere-Ekun, noted for influential contributions to Nigeria’s legal environment
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has been a leading figure in numerous groundbreaking judgments that have shaped Nigeria’s legal environment. Her decisions have often influenced political results and widened the scope of public interest litigation.
One of these is the 2019 Imo State Gubernatorial Election case, Justice Kekere-Ekun led the Supreme Court in a decision that awarded Uzodinma the victory, based on results from 388 polling units that had been excluded before. This decision, known for its controversy, was rendered in January 2020.
Her swearing-in made her the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria, a role previously held by Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar.
Court of Appeal overrides Kogi High Court, permits EFCC to prosecute Yahaya Bello
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the decision of the Kogi State High Court, which had restricted the EFCC from prosecuting Yahaya Bello on an N80 billion money laundering case, was overturned by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Bello avoided five court appearances for his arraignment on April 18, April 23, May 10, June 13, and June 27, by hiding and filing several motions disputing the EFCC’s and the court’s power to arraign him.