As the Justice Olukayode Ariwola prepares to bow out as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Kudirat Adetokunbo Motonmori Kekere-Ekun as his replacement.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is a native of Lagos State where she started her law career rising from Senior Magistrate to the State High Court from where she was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2004 while President Bola Tinubu was the governor of Lagos State.
She was elevated to the Supreme Court in July 2013. In the Supreme Court she has take part in various landmark judgements including the 2020 judgement that declared Senator Hope Uzodinma the validly elected Governor of Imo State even though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier declared Uzodinma to have come fourth in the election.
Announcing the recommendation of Justice Kekere-Ekun on Thursday, the NJC Director of Information, Soji Oye revealed that the jurist was recommended at the 106th meeting of August 14 and 15 presided over by the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
The incoming CJN was born on May 7, 1958 in London, United Kingdom where she also had her early education. She graduated with a law degree from the University of Lagos in 1980 and was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981 after successfully passing out from the Nigerian Law School.
Justice Kekere-Ekun later proceeded to the London School of Economics where she received a Masters degree in law in November 1983.
If President Bola Tinubu eventually appoints Justice Kekere-Ekun, she would be the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria coming after Justice Mouktar Aloma as the first female CJN.