The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The NJC announced this in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Soji Oye, on Thursday, August 15, 2024.

The recommendation of Justice Kekere-Ekun followed the forthcoming retirement of the incumbent CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

Justice Ariwoola will bow out of the bench on August 22, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Oye noted that Kekere-Ekun’s nomination was made alongside the appointment of 27 others as Judges of State High Courts during the ongoing NJC meeting.

The emergence of Kekere-Ekun will be subject to confirmation by President Bola Tinubu and screening by the Senate.

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

Kekere-Ekun graduated with a Law degree from the University of Lagos in 1980. She was subsequently admitted to the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981.

In her quest for further studies, she proceeded to the London School of Economics for a Master’s in Law which she completed in November 1983.

The prospective CJN joined the Lagos State Judiciary as Senior Magistrate II after her return to Nigeria and rose to the level of State High Court Judge. She served as Chairman of Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja between November 1996 and May 1999.

Kudirat was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2004 as Justice. After nine years at the appellate court, she was elevated to the Supreme Court as Justice in July 2013.

She is the most senior Justice of the apex court after the retiring Justice Ariwoola.

The Star