Justice Kekere-Ekun to succeed Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the incumbent Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, as Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad who is currently next to the CJN retires from the bench.
According to the normal protocols of the supreme court of Nigeria, Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad who will retire from the bench on Monday 23rd of October,2023. Will provide the opportunity for Justice Kekere-Ekun to automatically occupy the vacant position of the outgoing Justice Musa Dattijo…,and owing to the fact that the incumbent CJN will be retiring from service in 2024.
Interestingly, Justice Kudirat Motonmiti Olatokumbo Kekere-Ekun is from south west of Nigeria,who has paid her full dues professionally in accordance to the provisions of the law.
Honourable Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun popularly known as Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria was born May 7, 1958. She obtained her LL.B in 1980 from the University of Lagos and LL.M from the London School of Economic and Political Science in November 1983. She was called to the Nigerian Bar on 10th July 1981.
She was appointed a Senior Magistrate Grade II, Lagos State Judiciary in December 1989 and became a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State in July 1996. She served as Chairman Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos from November 1996 to May 1999.
In September, 2004, Justice Kekere-Ekun was elevated as a Justice of the Court of Appeal. She served as a member of the Court of Appeal ICT Committee from June 2011 to July 2013. She was elevated to the Apex Court as a Justice of Supreme Court of Nigeria on June 8, 2013 becoming the youngest Judge of the Supreme Court.
Kekere-Ekun is one of the most upright jurists. She wrote the leading judgment in the Rivers State governorship election petition that was fought up to the apex court. Ordinarily, people think that the judgment should have reflected her background because her husband is one of the APC chieftains
She has attended numerous courses and seminars within and outside Nigeria, such as Case Management and Court Administration Training Workshop Organized by the National Centre for State Courts in June 2001, ICT Training Course (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) in Dubai UAE in July 2012 and the 34th Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime, Cambridge, UK in September 2016.