Tinubu swears In Kekere-Ekun as Acting CJN
. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sworn in Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, at the Council chamber of the State House in Abuja
Olatokunbo took the judicial oath of office at 11:38 am on Friday, August 23, 2024 in a brief ceremony at the Council Chambers, shortly after President Tinubu returned from his brief work stay in France.
Kekere-Ekun, the 23rd CJN will now operate in Acting capacity until her confirmation by the Nigerian Senate under President Tinubu’s request.
The newly sworn-in acting CJN, Kekere-Ekun after a series of photographs with the President and her family members as well as the leadership of the National Assembly, took her position position at the Council Chamber.
Voice of Nigeria reports that the event was witnessed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the leadership of the House of Representatives represented by Prof Julius Ihonbvere, the Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Present at the ceremony were Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu also attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Also in attendance were the twenty-one Justices of the Supreme Court including the immediate past Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Kayode Ariwoola as well as the outgoing President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Maikiyau with the leadership of the NBA.
Kudirat Kekere-Ekun is now the Second Nigeria female jurist to serve as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, after Justice Mariam Mukhtar Aloma, who was the Chief Justice of Nigeria between July 2012 and November 2014.
The new Acting CJN 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.
She was awarded a Master of Law in November 1983 at the London School of Economics.
Kekere-Ekun began her career in the judiciary as a 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.
Kekere-Ekun was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2004 in recognition of her contribution to the development of the judiciary.
