Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has been officially sworn in as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Bola Tinubu.
The ceremony took place today at 11:38 a.m., with Justice Kekere-Ekun assuming her role in an acting capacity until her confirmation by the Senate.
After taking her oaths, Justice Kekere-Ekun was seated in the Council Chambers at 11:45 a.m., taking her place on the left side of the President.
She steps into her new role following the retirement of her predecessor, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. Her nomination by the National Judicial Council (NJC) was presented to President Tinubu on August 15.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is now the second female jurist to serve as Chief Justice of Nigeria, following Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who served from July 2012 to November 2014.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by notable figures including other Justices of the Supreme Court, President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives leadership represented by Prof. Julius Ihonbvere, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and former Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. Also present were Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, born on May 7, 1958, in London, began her legal career at the University of Lagos, earning her law degree in 1980, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981. She furthered her education with a Master of Law from the London School of Economics in 1983.
Her judicial career began as a Senior Magistrate II in Lagos State, and she was later promoted to the High Court. She served as Chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja from 1996 to 1999, and was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2004 in recognition of her contributions to the judiciary.
