President Bola Tinubu has appointed Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, pending Senate approval.
This appointment came after President Tinubu returned to Abuja early Friday morning from a brief work visit to France. He had departed for France on Monday but cut his trip short.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is set to be officially sworn in as Chief Justice this morning at the Council Chambers in the State House.
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She will succeed Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who retired on Thursday upon reaching the mandatory age of 70.
Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, revealed in a statement that President Tinubu also congratulated Justice Ariwoola, praising his tenure in the judiciary as a “successful public service career” and commending his contributions to the nation.
Before his appointment to the Supreme Court in 2011, Justice Ariwoola served as a Justice on the Court of Appeal, covering the Kaduna, Enugu, and Lagos divisions.
He was sworn in as Chief Justice of Nigeria on September 21, 2022, by former President Muhammadu Buhari. Throughout his career, Justice Ariwoola has held various roles and contributed significantly to the judiciary in multiple capacities.
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Last week, the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended Justice Kekere-Ekun to President Tinubu as the successor to Justice Ariwoola.
NJC spokesman Soji Oye announced this in a statement, noting that the recommendation was made after the Council’s 106th meeting, which was chaired by Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
The Supreme Court currently comprises a full complement of 21 Justices.
According to long-standing tradition, the next most senior Justice will be appointed to fill the position.
Among the Justices, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun is the most senior, making her the designated successor to Justice Ariwoola.
