President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would on Friday swear in Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo, commonly known as Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
Justice Kekere-Ekun would be sworn in by the president at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Chief Ajuri Ngelale, has said.
Kudirat Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom. Her quest in the legal profession commenced at the University of Lagos where she obtained her first degree in law in 1980. After her completion of the Nigeria Law School, she was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981. Academism was the driving force that propelled her to the London School of Economics where she was awarded a master of Law in November 1983.
Kekere-Ekun began her career in the judiciary in the capacity of the Senior Magistrate II in the Lagos State Judiciary before being promoted to the status of State High Court Judge.
She also served as the chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja from November 1996 to May 1999.
She was appointed to Court of Appeal in 2004 in recognition of her contribution to the development of the judiciary.
This was followed by her promotion as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July 2013.
Her service to the judiciary acknowledged in October 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari who awarded her the national honours of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).