Justice Kekere-Ekun took her oaths at 11:38am and moments later, at 11:45am, she took her rightful place in the Council Chambers, sitting to the left of the President.
In a historic ceremony held at the State House in Abuja on Friday, President Bola Tinubu administered the oath of office to Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, formally inaugurating her as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). Justice Kekere-Ekun took her oath at 11:38am and subsequently took her seat in the Council Chambers at 11:45am, alongside the President.
She will serve in an acting capacity pending Senate confirmation, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Nigeria’s judicial leadership.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has taken over as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), succeeding Justice Olukayode Ariwoola who recently retired.
Her appointment follows her nomination and presentation to President Tinubu by the National Judicial Council (NJC) on August 15. Notably, Justice Kekere-Ekun is the second female CJN in Nigeria’s history, after Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who held the position from 2012 to 2014.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by esteemed guests, including Supreme Court Justices, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives leadership represented by Prof Julius Ihonbvere, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwoolu, and the immediate past CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Notable dignitaries in attendance included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom. Her illustrious legal career began at the University of Lagos, where she earned her first degree in law in 1980. Following her completion of the Nigeria Law School, she was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981.
She furthered her education at the London School of Economics, obtaining a Master of Law in November 1983.Justice Kekere-Ekun’s judicial career commenced as a Senior Magistrate II in the Lagos State Judiciary, where she demonstrated exceptional dedication and expertise, leading to her promotion to State High Court Judge.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun further demonstrated her expertise and commitment to the judiciary through her tenure as Chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, serving from November 1996 to May 1999.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the development of the judiciary, Justice Kekere-Ekun was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2004, a testament to her dedication and expertise in the field.
