President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
This request was conveyed through a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a plenary session. Justice Kekere-Ekun, a 66-year-old jurist, has been serving as the Acting CJN since August, following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
In his letter, President Tinubu cited Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which empowers the President to appoint the CJN based on recommendations from the National Judicial Council (NJC), pending Senate approval. The NJC had recommended Justice Kekere-Ekun in August as the successor to Justice Ariwoola. Tinubu expressed confidence in her capabilities and urged the Senate to act promptly on the confirmation.
He stated, "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."
Justice Kekere-Ekun's role as the Acting CJN involves presiding over the Supreme Court, supervising case selections, public sessions, private conferences, and the voting process among the nine Justices. Her confirmation would solidify her position as the head of Nigeria's judiciary, ensuring continuity and stability within the country's highest court.
The Senate President referred the nomination to the Committee of the Whole for deliberation, which is expected to take place in the next legislative sitting. The urgency of this confirmation is showed by the need for a permanent leadership in the judiciary to uphold the rule of law and maintain judicial integrity.
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