Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. This landmark appointment makes Justice Kekere-Ekun the second woman to hold the esteemed position in Nigeria’s judicial history, following Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who served from 2012 to 2014.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, born on May 7, 1958, is the second most senior justice of the Supreme Court. She earned her LL.B from the University of Lagos in 1980 and her LL.M from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1983. Called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1981, she began her career in private practice before being appointed as a Senior Magistrate in Lagos State in 1989. Her judicial journey continued with her appointment as a High Court Judge in 1996, where she also chaired the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal in Lagos.
In 2004, she was elevated to the Court of Appeal, serving in various divisions, including as the presiding justice of the Makurdi and Aku Divisions. Her appointment to the Supreme Court in July 2013 marked her as its fifth female justice.
Justice Kekere-Ekun's elevation to Chief Justice marks a new chapter in the Nigerian judiciary, reflecting her extensive experience and commitment to justice.
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