President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday swore in Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo, commonly known as Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
The ceremony was held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja,
The Senate had on September 25 confirmed her as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had announced the confirmation during plenary on Wednesday after she was cleared by voice votes. following her screening for almost two hours as lawmakers threw various questions at her, particularly on judicial reforms.
The confirmation was pursuant to Section 231 (1) of the Constitution as amended.
After announcing the confirmation, Akpabio assured all that Nigeria would get adequate justice under the leadership of Kekere-Ekun as the new CJN.
The Senate President, thereafter, congratulated the new CJN and urged her to uphold the integrity of the judiciary.
During her screening, she emphasized her firm against corruption in the judiciary.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, who was sworn in as the acting CJN by President Bola Tinubu, made this assertion during her Senate screening for confirmation as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“All pre-election matters will terminate at the Court of Appeal. I have zero tolerance for corruption,” she stated.
The screening took place after the Senate received a letter from the President, which was presented during Tuesday’s plenary session by Akpabio.
Kekere-Ekun has been serving in an acting capacity since August, following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
The 66-year-old jurist has been serving as the Acting CJN since Justice Ariwoola retired last month.
She is the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria and second Nigeria female jurist to serve in that position.
The first female to occupy the exalted seat was Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who was the CJN between July 2012 and November 2014.
Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom. Her journey in the legal profession commenced at the University of Lagos where she obtained her first degree in law in 1980.
After she completed the Nigeria Law School, she was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981.
Academia was the driving force that propelled her to the London School of Economics where she was awarded a master of Law in November 1983.
Shebegan her career in the judiciary in the capacity of the Senior Magistrate II in the Lagos State Judiciary before being promoted to the status of State High Court Judge.
She also served as the chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja from November 1996 to May 1999.
She was appointed to Court of Appeal in 2004 in recognition of her contribution to the development of the judiciary.
This was followed by her promotion as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July 2013.
Her service to the judiciary acknowledged in October 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari who awarded her the national honours of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).
