Tinubu swears in Kekere-Ekun as CJN, charges her to restore confidence in judiciary
President Bola Tinubu on Friday swore in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the 23rd and second female Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), in an acting capacity pending confirmation by the Senate.
Kekere-Ekun takes over from Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who retired on Aug. 22 at the age of 70.
Tinubu charged Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), to work on restoring public confidence in the nation’s judiciary.
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President Tinubu gave the charged while swearing in the new chief justice, who will serve in acting capacity pending her confirmation by the Senate, on Friday.
The president noted that the position of CJN comes with enormous responsibilities as the head of all judicial institutions in the country, urging her to be faithful and loyal to the constitution in the discharge of her duty.
“It is a position of considerable influence that demands the temperance and sobriety, the occupant must show the highest level of integrity in the discharge of duties. This is moreso because of the finality of the Supreme Court judgment .
Tinubu also encouraged the acting CJN to “defend the judiciary’s independence, always promote course of Justice, strengthen mechanism for integrity ,discipline and transparency in the judicial sector and pursue other reforms or initiatives to sustain public confidence in the judiciary”
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The president recalled her sterling contributions to the growth of the Nigerian legal system, adding, “we are inspired by her unwavering commitment ,the higher ideal of upholding the principles of fairness
“She was called to the bar in 1981, she’s now a trail blazer , becoming second woman to hold this position after Honourable Justice Mariam Muktar Aloma, who served as CJN from 16th July 2012 to 20th Nov 2014.
“Justice Kekere-Ekun ascension to this position is a beckon of hope for young woman that are aspiring to break the glass ceiling and make meaning impact on our society.
He noted that Nigeria’s Supreme Court has come a long way since it was empowered by the 1963 Republican Constitution to take over from the then judicial committee of the council as the highest court in the judicial hierarchy.
“Since then it had played a critical role in the evolution of our country resolving complex legal conflicts even under the military and reshaping public policy that impacts all segments of Nigerian society.”
Kekere-Ekun provides agenda
The acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has highlighted her agenda in an interview with the media, after she was sworn-in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday.
Among others, she pledged to elevate the judiciary to new heights, improve its reputation, and sustain public confidence in the judicial system.
”We will make sure that people have more confidence in the judiciary, and I believe that it is not a one-man job. We all have to be on board because we all see the areas that are in need of improvement.
”I believe that there will be maximum cooperation because we all want to see a better judiciary.
”A better judiciary is for the benefit of the entire nation. Whatever the shortcomings that we see today are, we are all members of the society so, if we want to see a better society, if we want to see improvement, let the improvement start with each and every one of us and our approach to justice.
”Let us all have faith in the system and then also be particular about the process of appointment, I know it is a source of a lot of concern; the issue of discipline on the bench and at the bar as well.
”All of these things are aspects that we will look into and I believe that by the grace of God, at the end of my tenure, we should be able to have a judiciary that we will all be proud of,” she said.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu congratulates Kekere-Ekun
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, has congratulated the newly appointed acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
He said that the appointment was well deserved.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile on Friday, said that Lagos state was proud to produce the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria.
According to him, the uncompromising judge is a good ambassador of Lagos state, and particularly the judiciary.
He recalled that Kekere-Ekun had served passionately for over two decades in different judicial capacities before her elevation to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in 2004 and 2013 respectively.
Sanwo-Olu urged her to continue upholding the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and justice, which she had been known for in the discharge of her duties.
The Governor also admonished the new appointee to endeavour to ensure that the judiciary remained the true hope of the common man.
“On behalf of my family, the government, and the people of Lagos state, I congratulate our Amazon, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on her appointment as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“The emergence of a Lagos indigene, Kekere-Ekun, as the second female CJN is a thing of joy to us, and we are happy to associate with her.
“Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun’s appointment is well deserved, and going by her antecedents as a seasoned jurist with over 30 years in the bar and bench as legal practitioner and Justice of the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, she will not disappoint Nigeria,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar was appointed as the first female CJN in Nigeria from July 2012 to November 2014
