The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, following her nomination by President Bola Tinubu.
The confirmation took place during a screening session where the Senate engaged the acting CJN on her plans to reform the judiciary.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, who had been sworn in by President Tinubu on 23 August 2024, in an acting capacity, is now the second female to hold the position of CJN, after Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar (2012–2014).
Her confirmation follows the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and her nomination by the National Judicial Council (NJC) on August 15.
During her screening, Kekere-Ekun was accompanied by other senior judicial officers, including heads of the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court.
In her address to the Senate, she outlined her vision for the judiciary, emphasising her commitment to upholding integrity, strict discipline, and “zero tolerance for corruption” within the judicial system.
“One of the things that I’m known for is integrity. I’m also known for being strict on discipline,” she stated, adding that she would ensure strict compliance with the judiciary’s code of conduct.
Justice Kekere-Ekun advocated for judicial reforms, notably proposing that pre-election matters and interlocutory appeals should terminate at the Court of Appeal.
This, she argued, would reduce the overwhelming number of cases pending before the Supreme Court, enabling the court to focus on matters of national significance. She explained, “I am very firmly of the view that there needs to be a limit to the cases that get to the Supreme Court.”
She also expressed concerns over the increasing incidence of conflicting judgements and vowed to tackle this issue through committees that would address such cases promptly.
Furthermore, Kekere-Ekun criticised senior lawyers for making frivolous public comments on cases pending in court, warning that there would be strict consequences for erring legal practitioners and judges.
In addition to judicial reforms, Kekere-Ekun stressed the importance of improving the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers.
While commending the recent salary increment for judicial officers, she noted that more needed to be done to ensure optimal performance in the judiciary.
The presidency hailed Kekere-Ekun’s confirmation as a testament to President Tinubu’s commitment to seniority and merit in judicial appointments.
Senator Basheer Lado, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, stated, “The appointment of the CJN is a demonstration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s continued commitment to a revamped judiciary.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during the session, commended the judiciary’s role in strengthening democracy and called for further legislative interventions, particularly on matters like local government autonomy.
He praised the Senate’s expeditious confirmation of Kekere-Ekun as CJN, highlighting the Senate’s readiness to collaborate with the executive in delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.
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