The Nigerian Senate has taken a crucial step towards confirming Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the country’s 23rd substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and only the second female to hold the position.
On Wednesday, Justice Kekere-Ekun appeared before lawmakers for screening, following President Bola Tinubu’s nomination letter presented during Tuesday’s plenary session ¹. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for further deliberation.
During the screening, Justice Kekere-Ekun declared her commitment to combating corruption in the judiciary. “All pre-election matters will terminate at the Court of Appeal. I have zero tolerance for corruption,” she stated. She also assured that her administration will maintain the integrity of the judiciary by enforcing a zero-tolerance policy on corruption.
Justice Kekere-Ekun outlined plans to ensure speedy resolution of petitions and judgments. She also emphasized the importance of performance evaluations for judges, conducted by the National Judicial Council (NJC). “We have a committee of the NJC that deals with performance evaluation… they assess judgments delivered, they assess how judges are performing their functions, and they have regular conferences.”
If confirmed, Justice Kekere-Ekun will break new ground as Nigeria’s second female CJN. Her confirmation will cement President Tinubu’s commitment to promoting gender equality in key positions.
The Senate’s confirmation will pave the way for Justice Kekere-Ekun’s substantive appointment as CJN, following her acting capacity since August. Nigeria’s judiciary is poised for a new era of transparency and accountability under her leadership.
