NJC to send Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun’s name for approval as the new CJN

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has reached a significant milestone in its quest to fill the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), as it prepares to forward the name of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to President Bola Tinubu on Friday. This development comes after the NJC’s 106th meeting, where Justice Kekere-Ekun was nominated for the esteemed role.

Soji Oye, the NJC Director of Information, confirmed on Thursday that the next step in the process is to transmit Justice Kekere-Ekun’s name to President Tinubu for approval. This move is in line with the constitutional procedure, which requires the NJC to recommend a candidate for the CJN position, subject to presidential approval.

The 106th meeting of the NJC, where Justice Kekere-Ekun was nominated, was presided over by the outgoing CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. This meeting marked Ariwoola’s last before his formal retirement on August 22, 2024, after dedicating years of service to the Nigerian judicial system.

If President Tinubu approves Justice Kekere-Ekun’s nomination, she will become the second female CJN in Nigeria’s history, following in the footsteps of Justice Mariam Mukhtar, who held the position from 2012 to 2014. This milestone would be a significant achievement for gender representation in the country’s judicial system.

In addition to Justice Kekere-Ekun’s nomination, the NJC also recommended 27 other individuals as judges of state high courts and one Khadi, whose names will be sent to the respective state governments for approval by the President. These nominated candidates will be sworn in after receiving approval from the President and state governors, as stipulated by the procedure.

The NJC meeting also saw the nomination of candidates from various states, including:

– Kwara State High Court: Olawoyin Olabisi, Abdulrazaq Funsho, Folorunsho Muritala, Dikko Adebayo, Adeniyi Adenike, and Osuolale-Ajayi Olalekan
– Kaduna State: Zubairu Ja’afaru
– Benue State: Kor Tersoo, Ikwulono Maimuna, Adagba Julie, Tor Tersugh, Onche Inalegwu, and Igba Terhile (for the Customary Court of Appeal)
– Rivers State High Court: Onyiri Frank, Ugoji Chinedum, Obomanu Vidal, Ogu guo Chituru, Fubara Elkanah, Kokpan Sylvester, Obu Madighi, and Wifa-Adedipe Lesi
– Other High Court candidates: Daomi Adebisi, Fabuluje William, Ogunwumiju Idowu, Demehin-Ogunbayo Happiness, Kpemi Justinah, and Adegoroye Adeola

These nominations mark a significant step in the process of filling key positions within the Nigerian judicial system. The approved candidates will play crucial roles in upholding justice and the rule of law in the country.