Senate Confirm Kekere-Ekun as 2nd Female Chief Justice of Nigeria

The Nigerian Senate has officially confirmed Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) after a thorough screening process conducted by the Senate, which took place on Wednesday.

Justice Kekere-Ekun's confirmation was prompted by a letter from President Bola Tinubu, who requested her appointment in accordance with Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution.

This section empowers the President to appoint the CJN based on recommendations from the National Judicial Council (NJC), pending Senate approval.

During the plenary session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio presented the President's letter, advocating for an expedited consideration of her nomination.

The screening process began at 12:47 PM and concluded at 2:41 PM, during which Justice Kekere-Ekun articulated her commitment to uphold integrity within the judiciary.

She emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for corruption and pledged to ensure that petitions are addressed promptly.

Furthermore, she highlighted the need for improved welfare and infrastructure for judicial officers to enhance operational efficiency.

With this appointment, Justice Kekere-Ekun becomes the second female to serve as Chief Justice of Nigeria, following Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who held the position from July 2012 to November 2014. Her legal career began at the University of Lagos, where she earned her law degree in 1980 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981.

She has been serving in an acting capacity since the retirement of her predecessor, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

In her responses to questions from Senators, Justice Kekere-Ekun reiterated her commitment to maintaining judicial independence and addressing issues such as case congestion and pre-election matters effectively.