Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun got her tenure as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) underway yesterday with a pledge to build a judiciary that every Nigerian will be proud of.
This she plans to do by making the generality of the people “have more confidence in the judiciary.”
Justice Kekere-Ekun spoke moment after her swearing in by President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
The President had charged her to remain faithful and loyal to the Constitution of Nigeria in the discharge of her duties.
“We will make sure that people have more confidence in the judiciary, and I believe that it is not a one-man job,” she told reporters as she stepped out of the venue of the swearing-in.
She added: “We all have to be on board because we all see the areas that are in need of improvement. I believe that there will be maximum cooperation because we all want to see a better judiciary.
A better judiciary is for the benefit of the entire nation. Whatever the shortcomings that we see today, we are all members of the society so, if we want to see a better society, if we want to see improvement, let the improvement start with each and every one of us and our approach to justice.
“Let us all have faith in the system and then also be particular about the process of appointment, I know it is a source of a lot of concern; the issue of discipline on the bench and at the bar as well.
“All of these things are aspects that we will look into and I believe that by the grace of God, at the end of my tenure, we should be able to have a judiciary that we will all be proud of.”
Tinubu, in his remarks on the occasion, also asked her to defend the judiciary’s independence, promote justice, strengthen mechanisms for integrity, discipline, and transparency, and pursue reforms to sustain public confidence in the judiciary.
He urged the CJN to espouse the highest level of integrity, temperance, and sobriety, considering the finality of judgments of the apex court.
“Undoubtedly, the position of the Chief Justice of Nigeria comes with enormous responsibilities as the head of all judicial institutions in the country. It is a position of considerable influence that demands the temperance sobriety, the occupant must espouse the highest level of integrity in the discharge of duties,” Tinubu said at the ceremony witnessed by Justices of the Supreme Court; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; the leadership of the House of Representatives, represented by Prof Julius Ihonbvere; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwoolu; and the immediate past CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
The President pledged that his administration would prioritise the development and welfare of the judiciary and its officers while also paying prompt and adequate attention to the sector.
It will similarly provide support, improve welfare and capacity, ease justice administration, and promote the rule of law, he said.
The President highlighted the recent 300% increase in judicial officers’ remuneration through the Judicial Office Holder Acts of 2024 and the appointment of 11 Supreme Court Justices in December 2023, bringing the court to its full complement for the first time in decades.
He said: “We expect the apex court to continue to play a critical role in the evolution of our constitutional democracy and shape public policies that impact all segments of Nigerian society.
“I want to assure you that my administration will continue to provide appropriate support to improve the welfare and capacity of the judiciary, ease the administration of Justice and promote the rule of law in Nigeria.
“This consideration informed the expedited passage of the National Assembly and my consent to the Judicial Office Holder Acts of 2024, which approved a 300 percent increase in remuneration of judicial officers.
This role, he said, has helped in sustaining Nigeria’s existence.
His words: “The Nigeria’s Supreme Court has come a long way, since it was empowered by the 1963 Republican Constitution to take over from the then Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the highest court in our judicial hierarchy.
“Since then it has played a critical role in the evolution of our country, resolving complex legal conflicts, even under the military, and shaping public policies that impact all segments of the Nigerian society.
Late Justice Thurgood Marshall, the American civil rights lawyer and first African-American Justice of the US Supreme Court, once said and I quote, ‘the constitution is not a static document, but rather a living instrument that must be adapted to the changing needs of society’.
“Following this entrenched tradition of the apex court, our Supreme Court, under our constitutional democracy, also recently interpreted the 1999 Constitution regarding the financial autonomy of the local council. To quote Marshall again, ‘it is emphatically the province and duty of judicial department to say what the law is’”, he said.
He described her as a brilliant lawyer who has made a great deal of contribution to the profession.
He said of her: “Over the years, she has established a respectable and incorruptible reputation within the bar and the bench, which asserts the cause of justice.
“Her meritorious rise from a magistrate to the justice of the Supreme Court is a testament to her exceptional talent, hard work, unblemished record, strong work ethic, and dedication to her calling as a priest in the temple of justice.
Her sterling contribution to the growth of the Nigerian judiciary has been remarkable. We are inspired by her unwavering commitment to a higher ideal of upholding the principles of fairness and a strong commitment to humanity.
Justice Kekere-Ekun is a brilliant lawyer who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981. She’s now a trailblazer becoming the second woman to hold this esteemed position after Honourable Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, GCON.”
President Tinubu expressed gratitude to the immediate past CJN, Justice Ariwoola, for his 33 years of distinguished service to the judiciary and the nation and wished him a healthy retirement.
Also speaking, Governor Sanwo-Olu, hailed the seamless transition of power to Justice Kekere-Ekun.
He commended President Tinubu for ensuring a smooth transition, cutting his trip short to oversee the swearing-in ceremony, thereby maintaining the integrity of the democratic process.
The governor expressed excitement about Justice Kekere-Ekun’s appointment, noting her outstanding judicial career, having progressed through all levels of the court system.
As a Lagosian, Sanwo-Olu welcomed her ascension to the highest judicial office, emphasising the importance of a clear separation of powers and mutual respect among branches of government.
Also present were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
