President Bola Ahmed Tinubu swore in Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria at the State House Council Chambers on Friday.

Kekere-Ekun replaces former CJN Olukayode Ariwoola who retired on Thursday.

Her appointment follows a recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC) during its 106th meeting, which was led by Ariwoola, on August 15. The NJC traditionally nominates the most senior justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria for the role.

Kekere-Ekun will continue as CJN in an acting capacity, pending the Senate’s final approval.

Section 231(4) of the Constitution allows the president to appoint the Supreme Court justice next in line to act as the CJN whenever the office becomes vacant.

Appointed to the Supreme Court in July 2013, Kekere-Ekun is the fifth female justice to serve on the bench. She is to lead the Nigerian judiciary until 2028 when she reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70.

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With this appointment, Kekere-Ekun becomes Nigeria’s second female CJN after Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who held the position from July 2012 to November 2014.

In 2020, Kekere-Ekun delivered a controversial judgment that legitimised Hope Uzodinma’s election as the Governor of Imo State.

The decision was based on the inclusion of results from 388 polling units where Uzodinma had secured victories but which were initially excluded from the total election results.