Kudirat Kekere-Ekun: Key Facts About Nigeria’s Next Female CJN

It’s no longer news that the National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to President Bola Tinubu for appointment as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). The recommendation was made during the NJC’s 106th meeting, which was presided over by the council chairman and outgoing CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, currently the second most senior justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, is poised to become the second woman in Nigeria’s history to hold the prestigious position of CJN, following in the footsteps of Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who served from 2012 to 2014.

Notable Facts About Kudirat Kekere-Ekun:

Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo, CFR, widely recognised as Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, is a distinguished Nigerian jurist currently serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

She was born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Lagos in 1980.

Kekere-Ekun was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981, after completing her studies at the Nigerian Law School.

She furthered her education at the London School of Economics, where she obtained a master’s degree in Law in November 1983.

After several years in private practice, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun joined the Lagos State Judiciary as a Senior Magistrate in 1989. Her commitment and expertise quickly earned her promotions,

She was appointed as a High Court Judge in 1996. During this period, notably, she served as the Chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal in Lagos from 1996 to 1999.

Furthermore, in 2003, K.M.O. Kekere-Ekun served as a member of the Ethics Curriculum Planning Committee of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID) and UNODC. This committee produced the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees. She also chaired the Public Complaints and Training Committee that was part of the UNODC pilot project on strengthening judicial integrity and capacity in Lagos State. This was from February 2003 till July 2004

In 2004, she was elevated to the Court of Appeal, where she served in various divisions.

She served as the presiding justice of the Makurdi and Akure Divisions of the Appellate Court.

In July 2013, she was appointed to the Supreme Court, making her the fifth female justice on Nigeria’s highest court.

One of the most significant moments in Justice Kekere-Ekun’s career occurred in 2020 when she was part of the seven-member Supreme Court panel that issued a controversial ruling in the Imo State governorship election case. The panel’s decision to remove Governor Emeka Ihedioha and declare Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who originally placed fourth, as the winner of the election was met with widespread debate. Despite the controversy, Ihedioha respected the judgement.

She was a recipient of the Merit Awards of the Lagos State Judiciary in December 2003.

In September 2013, she was twice awarded the Distinguished Trailblazer Awards by the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (August 2012 and 2014).

In October 2022, she was honoured with the Nigerian national award of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) by the then President Muhammadu Buhari. This prestigious award was a testament to her significant contributions to the Nigerian legal system and her role as a respected figure in the country’s judiciary.

She belongs to several professional associations and groups, including the National Association of Women Judges; International Association of Women Judges; Body of Benchers – Life Bencher W.E.F. 8th February 2018; Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (Fellow), and International Dispute Resolution Institute (Fellow). She is also a member of the Ikoyi Club 193

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun is married to Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun, OFR, and has three children.