By Eric Elezuo
During the week, the National Judicial Council (NJC), in line with popular anticipation, recommended Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun to President Bola Tinubu for appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
On confirmation, Kekere-Ekun will become the second female to become Nigeria’s head of the judiciary, after Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, whose tenure ran from July 2012 to November 2014. She will replace Justice Kayode Ariwoola, who will formally bow out on August 22.
The NJC also recommended 27 candidates for appointment as judges of state courts and one as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja.
A statement by the spokesperson of the NJC, Soji Oye, said the recommendation was made at the Council’s 106th Meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, held on August 14 and 15.
The statement read: “The NJC also “recommend twenty-seven (27) candidates for appointment as Judges of States Courts and a candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja to their various State Governors and Mr President.
“NJC recommends Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR as the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and Twenty-eight (28) others as Judges of various Courts.
“The National Judicial Council at its 106th Meeting presided over by the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, held on August 14 and 15, 2024, recommended Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, to President Bola Tinubu, for appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“This is imperative as Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will formally bow out of office as the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria next week Thursday on August 22, 2024.
“Council also recommend twenty-seven (27) candidates for appointment as Judges of States Courts and a candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja to their various State Governors and Mr. President as follows:
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN)
Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR
Six Judges, High Court of Kwara State
Olawoyin, Ibijoke Olabisi, Abdulrazaq, Fatimah Funsho, Folorunsho, Oba Muritala, Dikko, Yusuf Adebayo, Adeniyi, Oluwatosin Adenike and Osuolale-Ajayi, Temitope Olalekan
One Judge, High Court of Kaduna State
Zubairu, Murtala Ja’afaru
Four Judges, High Court of Benue State
Kor, Vincent Tersoo, Ikwulono, Maigida Maimuna, Adagba, Nguhemen Julie and Tor, Damian Tersugh
Two Judges, Customary Court of Appeal, Benue State
Onche, Ogah Inalegwu and Igba, Theophilus Terhile
Eight Judges, High Court of Rivers State
Onyiri, Frank, Ugoji, Victor Chinedum, Obomanu, Godswill Vidal, Oguguo, Rita Chituru, Fubara, Alatuwo Elkanah, Kokpan, Bariyima Sylvester, Obu, Ibietela Innocent Madighi and Wifa-Adedipe, Lesi
Six Judges, High Court of Ondo State
Daomi, Williams Adebisi, Fabuluje, Adewumi William, Ogunwumiju, Mobayonle Idowu, Demehin-Ogunbayo, Inumidun Happiness, Kpemi, Ojufisintei Justinah and Adegoroye, Olufunke Adeola
One Kadi, Shariah Court of Appeal, FCT, Abuja.
Muhammad, Lawal Munir
“All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective State governors.”
Justice Kekere-Ekun joined the Lagos State Judiciary as Senior Magistrate II and rose to the position of the State High Court Judge. She served as Chairman of Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, between November 1996 to May 1999. She was appointed to the bench of the Nigerian courts of appeal in 2004 before her appointment as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July 2013.
In 2020, Kekere-Ekun was on the seven-member panel that sacked Imo State governor Emeka Ihedioha and declared that the winning candidate was Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who originally came fourth in the election results. Ihedioha described the verdict as “unfair, unjust and does not reflect the voting that took place during the elections”.
Kekere-Ekun is expected to bring a new lease of life to the judiciary towards restoring its dignity and respect. Her tenure Kickstart on August 22 when Justice Ariwoola will bow out of office.
