The National Judicial Council (NJC) has put forward a recommendation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment of Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Soji Oye, the spokesperson for the NJC, revealed this information in a statement released on Thursday.
Kekere-Ekun began her career with the Lagos State Judiciary as a Senior Magistrate II and advanced to become a Judge of the State High Court.
She held the position of Chairman for the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, from November 1996 to May 1999. In 2004, she was appointed to the bench of the Nigerian Court of Appeal, and subsequently, in July 2013, she was elevated to the position of Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Oye stated that the appointment of Kekere Ekun resulted from the Council’s 106th Meeting, which was chaired by the departing Chief Justice, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
He stated that the meeting took place in Abuja on August 14 and 15, merely a week prior to Justice Ariwoola’s retirement as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola was appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria by former President Muhammadu Buhari on September 21, 2022.
He is scheduled to retire on August 22 upon reaching the compulsory retirement age of 70.
The statement read: “The NJC also “recommend twenty-seven (27) candidates for appointment as Judges of States Courts and a candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja to their various State Governors and Mr. President.”
“NJC recommends Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR as the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and Twenty-eight (28) others as Judges of various Courts
“The National Judicial Council at its 106th Meeting presided over by the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, held on 14 & 15 August 2024, recommended Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“This is imperative as Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, will formally bow out of office as the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria next week Thursday on 22 August 2024.
“Council also recommend twenty-seven (27) candidates for appointment as Judges of States Courts and a candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja to their various State Governors and Mr. President as follows:
CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA
Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR
SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF KWARA STATE
1. Olawoyin, Ibijoke Olabisi
2. Abdulrazaq, Fatimah Funsho
3. Folorunsho, Oba Muritala
4. Dikko, Yusuf Adebayo
5. Adeniyi, Oluwatosin Adenike
6. Osuolale-Ajayi, Temitope Olalekan
ONE JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KADUNA STATE
Zubairu, Murtala Ja’afaru
FOUR JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF BENUE STATE
1. Kor, Vincent Tersoo
2. Ikwulono, Maigida Maimuna
3. Adagba, Nguhemen Julie
4. Tor, Damian Tersugh
TWO JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, BENUE STATE
1. Onche, Ogah Inalegwu
2. Igba, Theophilus Terhile
EIGHT JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF RIVERS STATE
1. Onyiri, Frank
2. Ugoji, Victor Chinedum
3. Obomanu, Godswill Vidal
4. Oguguo, Rita Chituru
5. Fubara, Alatuwo Elkanah
6. Kokpan, Bariyima Sylvester
7. Obu, Ibietela Innocent Madighi
8. Wifa-Adedipe, Lesi
SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF ONDO STATE
1. Daomi, Williams Adebisi
2. Fabuluje, Adewumi William
3. Ogunwumiju, Mobayonle Idowu
4. Demehin-Ogunbayo, Inumidun Happiness
5. Kpemi, Ojufisintei Justinah
6. Adegoroye, Olufunke Adeola
ONE KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, FCT ABUJA
Muhammad, Lawal Munir
“All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn-in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective State Governors.”
