The National Judicial Council NJC has recommended Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN.
Disclosing this in a statement on Thursday, NJC spokesman, Soji Oye, said the decision was taken following the Council’s 106th Meeting presided over by the CJN Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
He said the meeting was held on August 14 and 15 in Abuja, just seven days before the retirement of Justice Ariwoola as the CJN.
This is imperative as Justice Olukayode Ariwoola will formally bow out of office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria next week Thursday being August 22, 2024.
If approved, Justice Kekere-Ekun would be the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria with Mouktar Aloma as the first female CJN.
The Council also recommend 28 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 State Governors.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola was appointed as the CJN on September 21, 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He is billed to bow out on August 22, when he will attain the mandatory retirement age of 70.