NJC recommends Lagos Judge Kekere-Ekun as next Chief Justice of Nigeria

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to replace Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

NJC spokesman, Soji Oye, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, August 15, 2024, saying Kekere-Ekun was nominated at its 106th meeting presided over by the outgoing CJN.

Kekere-Ekun joined the Lagos State Judiciary as Senior Magistrate II and rose to the position of the State High Court Judge.

Ariwoola who has attained the compulsory retirement age of 70, will exit office on August 22.

According to the state, the NJC also recommended 28 candidates for appointment as judges of state courts, to their various governors.

The Council further nominated someone as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja, to the President.

Who is Kudirat Kekere-Ekun

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 and 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.

The statement read: “The NJC 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.”

“NJC recommends Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR as the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and Twenty-eight (28) others as Judges of various Courts.

“The National Judicial Council at its 106th Meeting presided over by the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, held on 14 & 15 August 2024, recommended Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“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

Hon. 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.”