Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has been sworn in as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
Kekere-Ekun will serve in an acting capacity until confirmed by the Senate.
She became the second female Justice to hold the position. Following the brief ceremony, Justice Kekere-Ekun assumed her rightful seat in the Council Chambers on the left-hand side of the President.
Kekere-Ekun’s acting capacity comes as a result of the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and her nomination by the National Judicial Council (NJC) on August 15.
She follows in the footsteps of Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, the first female CJN who served between July 2012 and November 2014.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom. She began her legal journey at the University of Lagos, earning her law degree in 1980.
After completing her studies at the Nigerian Law School, she was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981. She later earned a Master of Law degree from the London School of Economics in November 1983.
Kekere-Ekun started her judiciary career as a Senior Magistrate II in the Lagos State Judiciary, eventually being promoted to a State High Court Judge.
She also served as Chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, from November 1996 to May 1999. Her significant contributions to the judiciary led to her appointment to the Court of Appeal in 2004.
