The next Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) is expected to be Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun of the Supreme Court, barring any last-minute changes. Should Kekere-Ekun take office, she will be the second female justice in Nigeria to occupy the esteemed role, following Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who served as CJN for 28 months, from July 2012 to November 2014. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who has held the position since June 27, 2022, will formally leave on Thursday, August 22, 2024, following his achievement of the obligatory retirement age of 70 years.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is expected to secure the job because she is the most senior justice on the Supreme Court following Justice Ariwoola. The 66-year-old new CJN may hold the post for up to four years, as opposed to the two years that most of her predecessors did on average. Justice Kekere-Ekun, who served on the Supreme Court for eleven years, will take over as the country's next Chief Justice and be president of the National Judicial Council (NJC), which is responsible for selecting, promoting, and disciplining judges.
Born on May 7, 1958, Justice Kekere-Ekun earned her LL. B. from the University of Lagos in 1980 and her LL.M. from the London School of Economics and Political Science in November 1983. July 10, 1981, was her call to the Nigerian Bar. She worked as a private practitioner from 1985 to 1989. In December 1989, the Lagos State Judiciary appointed her as a Senior Magistrate Grade II. On July 19, 1996, she was named a judge of the Lagos State High Court. From November 1996 to May 1999, she presided over the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal in Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos.
On September 22, 2004, Kekere-Ekun was promoted to the Court of Appeal, where she served in several Divisions and, in 2011 and 2012, as the presiding justice of the appellate court's Makurdi and Aku Divisions. On Monday, July 8, 2013, she was sworn in as the fifth female justice of the Nigerian Supreme Court, having been promoted to that position. She has won multiple commendation prizes and attended a great deal of classes and seminars both inside and outside of Nigeria. In addition, Justice Kekere-Ekun belongs to the International Association of Women and is a life bencher.
The president and judges have been the center of attention, especially since the nation reverted to democracy in 1999. The Supreme Court's succession dispute might be amicable for the first time in five years with Justice Kekere-Ekun taking office in a few weeks. From March 7, 2017, to January 25, 2019, Justice Walter Onnoghen was the Chief Justice of the Nigerian High Court. His departure was met with controversy, as he was accused of not declaring his assets. Judge Tanko Muhammad, who succeeded him and took office on January 25, 2019, essentially maintained the same course after being accused of treating them unfairly, especially when it came to their well-being by other justices. On June 27, 2022, he voluntarily resigned due to ill health.
The head of the government's judicial branch is the CJN. He is in charge of the National Judicial Council and the Supreme Court of the nation. Following Justice Tanko Muhammad's retirement on June 27, 2022, the departing CJN (Ariwoola) was named acting CJN. On September 21, 2022, the Nigerian Senate ratified the appointment. Nigeria's Supreme Court is the highest authority, and its rulings are final. On the NJC's recommendation, the president nominates the CJN; the Senate must then confirm the nomination. According to the Nigerian constitution, the CJN can only be removed from office by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which needs the support of a supermajority of senators, or by death or reaching the age of 70, whichever happens first.
