The National Judicial Council (NJC) has formally recommended the appointment of Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR, as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
This recommendation was contained in a letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The NJC revealed that the decision to recommend Kekere-Ekun as the next CJN was reached during its 106th meeting presided over by the incumbent Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, held on 14 & 15 August 2024.
Also, the body recommended twenty-eight (28) others as Judges of various Courts.
If Tinubu okays the recommendation, it naturally follows that Kekere-Ekun would become the second woman to hold this exalted position in Nigeria’s history, succeeding Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who served as CJN from 2012 to 2014.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who became CJN on October 12, 2022, will vacate the office upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Born on May 7, 1958, 66-year-old Justice Kekere-Ekun obtained her LL.B from the University of Lagos in 1980 and an LL.M from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1983.
She was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1981. After several years in private practice, she was appointed as a Senior Magistrate in Lagos State in 1989, and later as a High Court Judge in 1996. She served as the chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal in Lagos from 1996 to 1999.
She was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2004, served in various divisions and was the presiding justice of the Makurdi and Aku Divisions. She was appointed to the Supreme Court in July 2013 as its fifth female justice.
Below is the full list of the nominees;
CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA
1. Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR
SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF KWARA STATE
1. Olawoyin, Ibijoke Olabisi
2. Abdulrazaq, Fatimah Funsho
3. Folorunsho, Oba Muritala
4. Dikko, Yusuf Adebayo
5. Adeniyi, Oluwatosin Adenike
6. Osuolale-Ajayi, Temitope Olalekan
ONE JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KADUNA STATE
1.Zubairu, Murtala Ja’afaru
FOUR JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF BENUE STATE
1. Kor, Vincent Tersoo
2. Ikwulono, Maigida Maimuna
3. Adagba, Nguhemen Julie
4. Tor, Damian Tersugh
TWO JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, BENUE STATE
1. Onche, Ogah Inalegwu
2. Igba, Theophilus Terhile
EIGHT JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF RIVERS STATE
1. Onyiri, Frank
2. Ugoji, Victor Chinedum
3. Obomanu, Godswill Vidal
4. Oguguo, Rita Chituru
5. Fubara, Alatuwo Elkanah
6. Kokpan, Bariyima Sylvester
7. Obu, Ibietela Innocent Madighi
8. Wifa-Adedipe, Lesi
SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF ONDO STATE
1. Daomi, Williams Adebisi
2. Fabuluje, Adewumi William
3. Ogunwumiju, Mobayonle, Idowu
4. Demehin-Ogunbayo, Inumidun Happiness
5. Kpemi, Ojufisintei Justinah
6. Adegoroye, Olufunke Adeola
ONE KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, FCT ABUJA
1. Muhammad, Lawal Munir
