Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun has been sworn in as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria by President Bola Tinubu.
She will serve in an acting capacity until her confirmation by the Senate.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at around 11:38 a.m., and Justice Kekere-Ekun took her seat beside the President in the Council Chambers at 11:45 a.m.
Justice Kekere-Ekun steps into this role following the retirement of her predecessor, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. She was nominated and presented to President Tinubu by the National Judicial Council on August 15.
Kudirat Kekere-Ekun is now the second female jurist in Nigeria to serve as the Chief Justice, following Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who held the position from July 2012 to November 2014.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by several notable figures, including Justices of the Supreme Court, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and leaders from the House of Representatives. Other attendees included the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Justice Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom. She began her legal journey at the University of Lagos, where she earned her law degree in 1980. After completing her studies at the Nigeria Law School, she was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981. She later obtained a Master of Law degree from the London School of Economics in November 1983.
Her judicial career began as a Senior Magistrate II in the Lagos State Judiciary, and she was later promoted to State High Court Judge. She also served as the Chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, from November 1996 to May 1999. In 2004, Kekere-Ekun was appointed to the Court of Appeal, recognizing her significant contributions to the judiciary.
