The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to be the next Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
The NJC’s recommendation was made in an impromptu closed-door meeting initially scheduled for Friday, but brought forward to Thursday in Abuja.
It also made recommendations for 27 others as judges of the state high court in the meeting, which is still ongoing.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who is the outgoing CJN, will leave the bench on August 22.
This is as he has reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Justice Ariwoola, was appointed CJN by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022.
With the Supreme Court currently having a full complement of 21 justices, Justice Kekere-Ekun, as the most senior justice, is poised to take over.
Kekere-Ekun is a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. She was born on May 7, 1958 in London, the United Kingdom.
She, however, obtained a degree in Law in 1980 from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and got admitted into the Nigerian bar in 1981
Kekere-Ekun, in 2020, was on the seven-member panel that sacked Imo State governor Emeka Ihedioha and declared Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who originally came fourth in the election results as the winner.
If Kekere-Ekun’s recommendation is approved, she will become the second female CJN in Nigeria’s history after Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who served as CJN from 2012 to 2014.
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Kekere-Ekun and the other candidates will be sworn in after the President and respective state governors approve the NJC’s recommendations.
See list of the recommended candidates below:
CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA
Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR
SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF KWARA STATE
Olawoyin, Ibijoke Olabisi
Abdulrazaq, Fatimah Funsho
Folorunsho, Oba Muritala
Dikko, Yusuf Adebayo
Adeniyi, Oluwatosin Adenike
Osuolale-Ajayi, Temitope Olalekan
ONE JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KADUNA STATE
Zubairu, Murtala Ja’afaru
FOUR JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF BENUE STATE
Kor, Vincent Tersoo
Ikwulono, Maigida Maimuna
Adagba, Nguhemen Julie
Tor, Damian Tersugh
TWO JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, BENUE STATE
Onche, Ogah Inalegwu
Igba, Theophilus Terhile
EIGHT JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF RIVERS STATE
Onyiri, Frank
Ugoji, Victor Chinedum
Obomanu, Godswill Vidal
Oguguo, Rita Chituru
Fubara, Alatuwo Elkanah
Kokpan, Bariyima Sylvester
Obu, Ibietela Innocent Madighi
Wifa-Adedipe, Lesi
SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF ONDO STATE
Daomi, Williams Adebisi
Fabuluje, Adewumi William
Ogunwumiju, Mobayonle Idowu
Demehin-Ogunbayo, Inumidun Happiness
Kpemi, Ojufisintei Justinah
Adegoroye, Olufunke Adeola
ONE KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, FCT ABUJA
Muhammad, Lawal Munir
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