President Bola Tinubu, on August 23, swore in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), pending her confirmation by the Senate. Justice Kekere-Ekun assumed her new role following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who bowed out on August 22 on attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
Her appointment followed her nomination and presentation to President Tinubu by the National Judicial Council (NJC) on August 15. Kudirat Kekere-Ekun is the second Nigerian female jurist to serve as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, after Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who was the Chief Justice of Nigeria between July 2012 and November, 2014.
The new CJN comes on board at a critical time in the history of the nation’s judiciary. In recent times, the judiciary has come under attack and suspicion by Nigerians over some of its pronouncements and judgements considered outrageous. There have been mounting allegations of financial malfeasance and corruption against judicial officers.
The situation was such bad that a publication by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in March, ranked judges as first among collectors of cash bribes among other public officials. A retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Musa Dattijo Abubakar, made references to the rot in judiciary in his valedictory speech in October last year. Therefore, all eyes are on the new CJN to revive the dwindling image and reputation of the judiciary.
The judiciary is an important arm of the government that is seen as the last hope of the common man. For it to play this enormous role effectively, it must be seen to be above board. The task before Justice Kekere-Ekun in reforming the sector is therefore huge. President Tinubu alluded to that during her inauguration when he urged the acting Chief Justice to defend the independence of the judiciary and promote the cause of justice. He also reminded her to see her appointment as an inspiration and a beacon of hope to young women who aspire to make meaningful impact on society.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun was born in London, United Kingdom, on 7 May 1958. She attended private primary schools before enrolling at Queen’s College, Lagos, in 1970. She studied Law at the University of Lagos from 1977 to 1980, obtaining her LL.B in 1980. She then attended the Nigerian Law School from 1980 to 1981 and was called to the Nigerian Bar on 10 July 1981. She later pursued a master’s degree in Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), graduating in 1983.
She was appointed a Senior Magistrate Grade II by the Lagos State Judiciary in December 1989, marking the beginning of her career on the bench. On 19 July 1996, she was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State. On 22 September 2004, she was elevated to the Court of Appeal, where she served in five different divisions across the country. She was the pioneer Presiding Justice of the Makurdi Division and served as the Presiding Justice of the Akure Division before her elevation to the Supreme Court on 8 July 2013.
Justice Kekere-Ekun’s career is marked by several key roles and contributions, such as chairmanship of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos, from November 1996 until the tribunals were abolished in May 1999; membership of the panel first selected to try cases under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act, 2004, and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
She is also a recipient of numerous awards and a member of several professional associations, including the National Association of Women Judges and the International Association of Women Judges. She is a Life Bencher and Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and the International Dispute Resolution Institute. Her appointment is therefore instructive and a progressive step in promoting gender equality within the nation’s highest judicial office.
It is good that her appointment is coming on the heels of the President approving a 300 per cent increase in salaries and allowances for judicial officers. Beyond the gesture, there is need for complete overhaul of the judiciary. The new CJN needs to do a lot to hasten the pace of justice delivery. We say this because justice delayed is justice denied. Cases should not be allowed to drag for so long. Unfortunately, some cases have dragged for ten years and more.
Above all, there is need for comprehensive reforms in the sector that will include computerization of the courts and the entire judiciary. Let judges acquire computer skills that will largely aid quick dispensation of justice. We congratulate Justice Kekere-Ekun on her elevation and wish her a successful tenure.