Kekere-Ekun sworn in as 23rd CJN + few background facts

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Kekere-Ekun took the oath of office and signed the oath register at 11.40 am at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja on Friday.

She succeeds Ariwoola, who assumed office on June 27, 2022, and bowed out on Thursday, upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.

She will operate in acting capacity until confirmation by the Senate.

Here are few facts about the new CJN:

1. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958.2.She got her law degree from University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1981.3. She went to the London School of Economic and Political Science to obtain an LL.M. in November 1983.

   4. Justice Kekere-Ekun’s legal career started in Lagos as a private lawyer from 1985 to 1989.

   5. In December 1989, she was appointed a Senior Magistrate Grade II, Lagos State Judiciary.

   6. She later became a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State on July 19, 1996 and served as Chairman Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos from November 1996 to May 1999.

   7. Kekere-Ekun was elevated to the Court of Appeal on 22nd September 2004 where she served in various Divisions of the Court and as presiding Justice of two Divisions of the Court (Makurdi & Akure).

   8. She was elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the 5th female Justice of the Court and was sworn in on Monday, July 8, 2013.

   9. The CJN has attended numerous courses and seminars within and outside Nigeria and also received several merit awards.

   10. She is a life Bencher and a member of the International Association of Women Judges and currently its President.

   11. In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) was conferred on her by President Muhammadu Buhari.

   12. She is happily married with children.

. The editorial.ng, Nation