President Bola Tinubu on Friday swore in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

She was sworn in at around 11:38 am at the State House in Abuja. This makes her the second female Nigerian jurist to serve as Chief Justice of Nigeria, after Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who served as Chief Justice of Nigeria between July 2012 and November 2014.

She will serve in her capacity until the Senate confirms her nomination.

Naija News reports Judge Kekere-Ekun takes on the new role following her recommendation for the position by the National Council for the Judiciary and the retirement of Judge Olukayode Ariwoola.

Among the dignitaries who attended the swearing-in were other Supreme Court judges; the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; the leadership of the House of Representatives, represented by Prof. Julius Ihonbvere; the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu; and the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola.

Also present were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Minister of Information and National Guidance, Mohammed Idris.

Honourable Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, one of Nigeria’s leading jurists, was born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom. Her parents are both from Lagos State, Nigeria.

Judge Kekere-Ekun is the eldest of eleven siblings, born into a diverse and influential family.

She received her primary education in private schools before moving to Queen’s College, Lagos in 1970.

Her passion for law took her to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where she studied from 1977 to 1980. She then proceeded to study at the Nigerian Law School where she was called to the Bar in July 1981.

In 1983 she obtained her master’s degree in law from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Justice Kekere-Ekun began her illustrious judicial career in December 1989 as a Senior Magistrate Grade II in Lagos. Her dedication and expertise saw her rise rapidly to the rank of Judge and on July 19, 1996, she was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State.

Her legal acumen was further recognized with her elevation to the Court of Appeal in September 2004, where she served in five different divisions across Nigeria. Notably, she was the pioneer Presiding Justice of Makurdi Division and later the Presiding Justice of Akure Division.

On July 8, 2013, Justice Kekere-Ekun was appointed as a Supreme Court Justice, making her the fifth and youngest woman to hold this highly regarded position.

She is a member of the Supreme Court Rules Committee and Chair of the Court’s Litigation Division Review Committee.

Her leadership roles also included the Chairmanship of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos, from November 1996 until the dissolution of the Tribunal in May 1999.

Since February 8, 2018, she has been honored as a Life Bencher by the Body of Benchers.

Judge KMO Kekere-Ekun has been married to Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun since December 1983. The couple have three children.

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