Tinubu swears in Kekere-Ekun as acting CJN — second female in history

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the acting chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The swearing-in ceremony took place on Friday at the State House in Abuja.

Kekere-Ekun’s inauguration makes her the second female CJN in the country’s history, after Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who was CJN from July 2012 to November 2014.

The acting CJN took her oath of office at about 11:38am and took her allotted seat in the council chamber — on the left of the president — at exactly 11:45am.

Among those who witnessed the event were other justices of the supreme court; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; the leadership of the house of representatives led by Julius Ihonbvere; Babajide Sanwoolu, governor of Lagos; and Olukayode Ariwoola, immediate past CJN.

Also present were George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF); Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA); Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president; and Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation.

BACKGROUND

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.

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 as a senior magistrate II in the Lagos state judiciary before gaining promotion to the position 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 contributions to the development of the judiciary.

SENATE CONFIRMATION

By constitutional provisions, Kekere-Ekun will occupy the office in an acting capacity, as the next most senior justice of the supreme court.

However, her assumption of the office in a substantive capacity is not automatic.

Section 231(5) of the constitution provides that unless the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommends otherwise, the acting CJN can only occupy the position for three months from the date of his/her appointment.

The senate would have to confirm her in line with section 231(1) of the constitution.

On August 15, the NJC recommended Kekere-Ekun to Tinubu for appointment as CJN.

The recommendation was made during NJC’s 106th meeting presided over by Olukayode Ariwoola, the immediate past CJN.

Ariwoola bowed out of office on August 22, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Tinubu cut short his “brief work stay” in France to swear in Kekere-Ekun.