Senate confirms Kekere-Ekun as Chief Justice of Nigeria

The Senate has confirmed Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The confirmation was pursuant to Section 231 (1) of the Constitution as amended.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the confirmation during a plenary after she had been cleared by voice votes.

After announcing the confirmation, Akpabio assured that Nigeria would get adequate justice under the leadership of the new CJN.

He thereafter congratulated and urged her to uphold the integrity of the judiciary.

Before she was cleared, the new CJN was subjected to screening for almost two hours as lawmakers fired various questions at her. The questions bordered mainly on judicial reforms after which she was cleared by the senators at the Committee of the Whole.

During her screening, she emphasized her zero tolerance for corruption in the judiciary..

Justice Kekere-Ekun, who was sworn in as the acting CJN by President Bola Tinubu, made this assertion during her Senate screening for confirmation as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“All pre-election matters will terminate at the Court of Appeal. I have zero tolerance for corruption,” she stated.

The screening took place after the Senate received a letter from President Tinubu which was presented during Tuesday’s plenary session by Akpabio.

Kekere-Ekun had been serving in an acting capacity since August, following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.