Justice Kekere-Ekun to become 2nd female CJN as NJC recommends her

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The recommendation was made on Thursday, August 15, 2024, in a closed-door meeting initially slated for Friday, August 16.

Justice Kekere-Ekun will replace the current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, whose tenure expires on August 22, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70.

This was contained in a statement by the NJC director of information, Soji Oye.

He said, “This is imperative as Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will formally bow out of office as the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria next week Thursday, August 22, 2024.”

If President Bola Tinubu approves the recommendation by the NJC, Justice Kekere-Ekun will become the second female CJN in Nigeria.

Maryam Mukhtar was the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria, serving from July 2012 to November 2014.

The council also recommended 27 others to head state high courts as judges.

Full list of others recommended as judges:

6 judges, High Court of Kwara State

Olawoyin, Ibijoke Olabisi

Abdulrazaq, Fatimah Funsho

Folorunsho, Oba Muritala

Dikko, Yusuf Adebayo

Adeniyi, Oluwatosin Adenike

Osuolale-Ajayi, Temitope Olalekan

1 judge, High Court of Kaduna State

Zubairu, Murtala Ja’afaru

Four judges, High Court of Benue State

Kor, Vincent Tersoo

Ikwulono, Maigida Maimuna

Adagba, Nguhemen Julie

Tor, Damian Tersugh

2 judges, Customary Court of Appeal, Benue State

Onche, Ogah Inalegwu

Igba, Theophilus Terhile

Eight Judges, High Court of Rivers State

Onyiri, Frank

Ugoji, Victor Chinedum

Obomanu, Godswill Vidal

Oguguo, Rita Chituru

Fubara, Alatuwo Elkanah

Kokpan, Bariyima Sylvester

Obu, Ibietela Innocent Madighi

Wifa-Adedipe, Lesi