President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm Justice Tinubu Writes Senate to Confirm Justice Kekere-Ekun as CJN as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Daily Report Nigeria reports that this request was conveyed in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary session.
In his letter, Tinubu invoked Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which grants him the authority to appoint the CJN based on recommendations from the National Judicial Council, subject to Senate approval.
He spoke about his confidence in Kekere-Ekun’s nomination and urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process.
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He said:
“I hereby forward the nomination of Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, CON, for confirmation as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. I trust that this request will receive the Senate’s prompt consideration and approval.”
Akpabio subsequently referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for deliberation at the next legislative sitting.
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Recall that the National Judicial Council (NJC) had recommended Justice Kekere-Ekun to the President in August as the successor to the former CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
The 66-year-old jurist has been serving as the Acting CJN since Justice Ariwoola’s retirement last month.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is set to become the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria and the second female jurist to hold this esteemed position.
The first female CJN was Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who served from July 2012 to November 2014.
Born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom (UK), the new CJN began her legal career at the University of Lagos, where she earned her law degree in 1980.
She was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981, after completing her studies at the Nigeria Law School.