The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
This decision was made at the NJC’s 106th meeting, presided over by the current CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
If approved by President Bola Tinubu, Justice Kekere-Ekun will become the second female CJN in Nigeria’s history, after Justice Mariam Mukhtar. She will succeed Justice Ariwoola, who will retire on August 22, 2024, upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70.
The NJC also recommended 27 candidates for appointment as judges of state high courts and one candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja. These recommendations will be forwarded to their respective state governors and the president for approval.
The NJC released a list of recommended candidates, including:
– Six judges for the High Court of Kwara State
– One judge for the High Court of Kaduna State
– Four judges for the High Court of Benue State
– Two judges for the Customary Court of Appeal, Benue State
– Eight judges for the High Court of Rivers State
– Six judges for the High Court of Ondo State
– One Kadi for the Sharia Court of Appeal, FCT Abuja
All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective state governors.
