JUST IN: Tinubu swears in Kekere-Ekun As acting CJN
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, or CJN, is now Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
In the state house’s council chamber, President Bola Tinubu, who arrived back in the early hours of Friday, gave her the oath of office.
The 66-year-old, who becomes the second female CJN, takes over for Olukayode Ariwoola, who left the role last Thursday after just two years in office.
The next most senior justice of the supreme court, Justice Kekere-Ekun, was suggested by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to be the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
In July 2013, Justice Kekere-Ekun took the oath of office and was raised to the 5th female Justice of the Court on the Nigerian Supreme Court.
Among those who witnessed the event were other Justices of the Supreme Court; 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 immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Also present at were 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; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
Kudirat 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. 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.
