Nigeria has appointed Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the 23rd Chief Justice of the Federation, marking a historic milestone as the country’s second female Chief Justice.
This pivotal appointment was announced by President Bola Tinubu and signifies a progressive stride in promoting gender equality at the highest levels of the judiciary.
Justice Kekere-Ekun’s extensive experience and distinguished career promise to lead influential legal reforms and further fortify the independence and integrity of Nigeria’s judicial system.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958, in London. Raised in a prominent family from Lagos State, she is the eldest of eleven siblings. Her father was a senator in Nigeria and a legal practitioner, while her mother, a qualified nurse, made significant contributions to the civil service in Lagos.
Justice Kekere-Ekun attended Queen’s College in Lagos and later earned her Law degree from the University of Lagos in 1980. After completing her studies at the Nigerian Law School, she was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981.
Beginning her career in the judiciary, she was appointed a Senior Magistrate in December 1989 and later became a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State in 1996. Elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2004, she served in various capacities, including as the pioneer Presiding Justice of the Makurdi Division.
On July 8, 2013, she achieved a significant milestone by becoming the fifth woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Throughout her career, Justice Kekere-Ekun has held key roles, including Chair of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal and a judge overseeing financial crimes and corruption cases.
Noteworthy contributions to judicial integrity and ethics include her membership in the committee that produced the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees and her leadership in a UNODC pilot project to enhance judicial integrity in Lagos State.
Recognized for her achievements, Justice Kekere-Ekun has received numerous awards and is a member of various professional associations, emphasizing her commitment to women’s representation in the judiciary.
Justice Kekere-Ekun has made landmark judicial decisions, including pivotal rulings in the Imo, Kogi, Osun, and Rivers State governorship disputes, establishing her significant impact on Nigeria’s legal landscape.
