12 Things To Know About The New CJN, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun was on Friday sworn in as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.

She will operate in acting capacity until confirmation by the Senate.

Justice Kekere-Ekun took her Oaths around 11:38am and took her rightful sitting position in the Council Chambers on the left hand side of the President at exactly 11:45am.

Here are 12 things to know about new CJN Kekere-Ekun

1. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958.

2. She bagged her law degree from University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1981.

3. Thereafter, she proceeded to the London School of Economic and Political Science to obtain an LL.M. in November 1983.

4. Justice Kekere-Ekun’s legal career started in Lagos as a private lawyer from 1985 to 1989.

5. In December 1989, she was appointed a Senior Magistrate Grade II, Lagos State Judiciary.

6. She later became a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State on July 19, 1996 and served as Chairman Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos from November 1996 to May 1999.

7. Kekere-Ekun was elevated to the Court of Appeal on 22nd September 2004 where she served in various Divisions of the Court and as presiding Justice of two Divisions of the Court (Makurdi & Akure).

8. She was elevated to the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the 5th female Justice of the Court and was sworn in on Monday,  July 8, 2013.

9. The incoming CJN has attended numerous courses and seminars within and outside Nigeria and also received several merit awards.

10. She is a life Bencher and a member of the International Association of Women Judges and currently its President.

11. In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) was conferred on her by President Muhammadu Buhari.

12. She is happily married with children.

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Source: The Nation