The National Judicial Council recommends female Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun to be elevated to the position of Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN) as Justice Olukayode Ariwoola bows out
By Udoka Ekeleme, Abuja
A second Nigerian woman is set to become the number one judicial officer in the country as the National Judicial Council (NJC), had on Thursday, August 15 recommended Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
The body also recommended twenty-eight (28) others as Judges of various Courts.
The decision was made during its 106th meeting presided over by the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, held on 14 & 15 August 2024.
The NJC said, “This is imperative as Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, will formally bow out of office as the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria next week Thursday on 22 August 2024.
“Council also recommend twenty-seven (27) candidates for appointment as Judges of States Courts and a candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja to their various State Governors and Mr. President as follows:
CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA
- Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR
SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF KWARA STATE
- Olawoyin, Ibijoke Olabisi
- Abdulrazaq, Fatimah Funsho
- Folorunsho, Oba Muritala
- Dikko, Yusuf Adebayo
- Adeniyi, Oluwatosin Adenike
- Osuolale-Ajayi, Temitope Olalekan
ONE JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KADUNA STATE
- Zubairu, Murtala Ja’afaru
FOUR JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF BENUE STATE
- Kor, Vincent Tersoo
- Ikwulono, Maigida Maimuna
- Adagba, Nguhemen Julie
- Tor, Damian Tersugh
TWO JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, BENUE STATE
- Onche, Ogah Inalegwu
- Igba, Theophilus Terhile
EIGHT JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF RIVERS STATE
- Onyiri, Frank
- Ugoji, Victor Chinedum
- Obomanu, Godswill Vidal
- Oguguo, Rita Chituru
- Fubara, Alatuwo Elkanah
- Kokpan, Bariyima Sylvester
- Obu, Ibietela Innocent Madighi
- Wifa-Adedipe, Lesi
SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF ONDO STATE
- Daomi, Williams Adebisi
- Fabuluje, Adewumi William
- Ogunwumiju, Mobayonle, Idowu
- Demehin-Ogunbayo, Inumidun Happiness
- Kpemi, Ojufisintei Justinah
- Adegoroye, Olufunke Adeola
ONE KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, FCT ABUJA
- Muhammad, Lawal Munir
All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective State Governors.
The current occupant of the office, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who assumed office on June 27, 2022, will formally bow out on Thursday, August 22, 2024, after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
The incoming CJN, who is 66 years old, may stay up to four years compared to the average of two years most of her predecessors held the position.
After 11 years at the Supreme Court, Justice Kekere-Ekun will not only become the next CJN but also head the National Judicial Council (NJC), which oversees the appointment, promotion, and discipline of judges across the country.
Justice Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958 and obtained her LL. B in 1980 from the University of Lagos and LL.M from the London School of Economics and Political Science in November 1983. She was called to the Nigerian Bar on 10th July, 1981.
From 1985 to 1989, she was in private practice and was later appointed a Senior Magistrate Grade II, Lagos State Judiciary in December 1989. She was appointed a judge of the High Court of Lagos State on July 19, 1996. She served as the chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos, from November 1996 to May 1999.
Kekere-Ekun was elevated to the Court of Appeal on 22nd September, 2004, where she served in various Divisions and as the presiding justice of two Divisions of the appellate court (Makurdi and Aku) in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
She was elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the fifth female justice of the apex court and sworn in on Monday, July 8, 2013.
She has attended numerous courses and seminars within and outside Nigeria and received several merit awards.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is also a life Bencher, a member of the International Association of Women Judges and its president.
