Urges her to ‘be loyal to Nigerias Constitution’
President Bola Tinubu yesterday administered the oath of office to Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), pending her confirmation by the 10th Senate.
The swearing-in of the 23rd CJN, and the second female justice to hold the office, took place at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.
Justice Kekere-Ekun will succeed Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who bowed out on Thursday after clocking the retirement age of 70 years.
In his remarks, President Tinubu urged the acting Chief Justice to defend the independence of the Judiciary and promote the cause of justice, appealing that your Lordship to be faithful and loyal to the Constitution when discharging your duty as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.
The President emphasised the importance of strengthening mechanisms that will uphold and enhance integrity, discipline, and transparency in the Judiciary.
President Tinubu also lauded the contributions of Justice Kekere-Ekun to the Judiciary, noting that she is coming to the position with an admirable family and professional pedigree.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is a brilliant lawyer who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981. Shes now a trail-blazer, becoming the second woman to hold this esteemed position after Honourable Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, GCON, the President further said. He noted that the appointment of the Acting CJN is an inspiration and a beacon of hope to young women who aspire to break glass ceilings across sectors and seek to make a meaningful impact on society.
He acknowledged the role of the Supreme Court in shaping public policies that impact all segments of society, citing the recent interpretation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) regarding the financial autonomy of local councils in Nigeria.
Highlighting the expedited passage of the Judicial Autonomy Act of 2024, which increased the remuneration of judicial officers by 300 percent, President Tinubu assured the judiciary of continued support from his administration in the expeditious improvement of its welfare and capacity.
He cited the appointment of 11 new justices of the Supreme Court in December 2023, which is enabling the court to work efficiently as it attained its full complement of 21 justices for the first time in decades.
Speaking to the media after the swearing-in, the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria pledged to elevate the judiciary to new heights, improve its reputation, and sustain public confidence in the judicial system.
Kekere-Ekun said, We will make sure that people have more confidence in the judiciary, and I believe that it is not a one-man job. We all have to be on board because we all see the areas that are in need of improvement.
I believe that there will be maximum cooperation because we all want to see a better Judiciary. A better Judiciary is for the benefit of the entire nation. Whatever the shortcomings that we see today are, we are all members of society, so if we want to see a better society, if we want to see improvement, let the improvement start with each and every one of us and our approach to justice”.
The event was witnessed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio; the immediate-past CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; former CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed; Justices of the Supreme Court, Senior judicial officers, and some members of the Federal Executive Council.
The family of the Acting CJN, led by her spouse, Akin Kekere-Ekun, was also present at the State House Council Chamber.
President Tinubu administered the oath of office soon after he returned to Abuja after a trip to France on a brief work visit. The President, who had cut short his to France, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in the early hours of yesterday, left for France on Monday.
