President Bola Tinubu is set to swear in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Friday, marking a milestone in the nation’s judiciary.
Kekere-Ekun’s swear-in follows the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Justice Kekere-Ekun’s appointment comes after the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended her as Ariwoola’s successor.
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Tinubu has praised Ariwoola for his dedicated service to the nation, describing his stint in the judiciary as a “successful public service career.”
Ariwoola has had a distinguished career, serving as Justice of the Court of Appeal in various divisions before his elevation to the Supreme Court in 2011.
He was sworn in as CJN by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022.
The new Justice’s appointment is seen as a natural progression, given her seniority on the apex court bench.
Notably, the Supreme Court currently has a full complement of 21 Justices, and by tradition, the next most senior Justice steps in as CJN.