NJC Recommends Justice Kekere-Ekun As New CJN To Take Over From Ariwoola

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice Of Nigeria (CJN) to take over from Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

Naija News reports Kekere-Ekun was recommended to President Bola Tinubu for appointment as the new CJN at the 106th meeting of the NJC, held on August 14 and 15 and presided over by Ariwoola.

It would be recalled that the current CJN, who assumed office on June 27, 2022, is set to bow out of office on August 22, 2024, after attaining the mandatory age of retirement.

The Council also recommended 27 candidates for appointment as judges of state courts and a candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja, to their various governors and the President.

These developments were confirmed by the spokesman for the NJC, Soji Oye, in a statement on Thursday.

He said that the decision became imperative because Justice Ariwoola “will formally bow out of office as the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria next week Thursday on 22 August 2024.”

Oye added: “Council also recommend 27 candidates for appointment as judges of states courts and a candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja to their various state governors and Mr. President.”

Should Justice Kekere-Ekun take over as the new CJN as expected after Ariwoola’s retirement, she would become the second female justice in Nigeria to hold the exalted position after Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who was CJN between July 2012 and November 2014.

The 66-year-old Kekere-Ekun is the most senior justice of the Supreme Court after Ariwoola, and is favoured to clinch the position.

After 11 years at the Supreme Court, Justice Kekere-Ekun will not only become the next CJN but also head the National Judicial Council (NJC), which oversees the appointment, promotion, and discipline of judges across the country.

Below is the full list of recommended judges.

CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA
*Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, CFR

SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF KWARA STATE
1. Olawoyin, Ibijoke Olabisi

2. Abdulrazaq, Fatimah Funsho

3. Folorunsho, Oba Muritala

4. Dikko, Yusuf Adebayo

5. Adeniyi, Oluwatosin Adenike

6. Osuolale-Ajayi, Temitope Olalekan

ONE JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KADUNA STATE
7. Zubairu, Murtala Ja’afaru

FOUR JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF BENUE STATE
8. Kor, Vincent Tersoo

9. Ikwulono, Maigida Maimuna

10. Adagba, Nguhemen Julie

11. Tor, Damian Tersugh

TWO JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, BENUE STATE
12. Onche, Ogah Inalegwu

13. Igba, Theophilus Terhile

EIGHT JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF RIVERS STATE
14. Onyiri, Frank

15. Ugoji, Victor Chinedum

16. Obomanu, Godswill Vidal

17. Oguguo, Rita Chituru

18. Fubara, Alatuwo Elkanah

19. Kokpan, Bariyima Sylvester

20. Obu, Ibietela Innocent Madighi

21. Wifa-Adedipe, Lesi

SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF ONDO STATE
22. Daomi, Williams Adebisi

23. Fabuluje, Adewumi William

24. Ogunwumiju, Mobayonle Idowu

25. Demehin-Ogunbayo, Inumidun Happiness

26. Kpemi, Ojufisintei Justinah

27. Adegoroye, Olufunke Adeola

ONE KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, FCT ABUJA
28. Muhammad, Lawal Munir