By Olawale Lamina
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to uphold the independence of the judiciary and promote the cause of justice in the country.
The President’s charge came after administration of the oath of office on Justice Kekere-Ekun, pending her confirmation by the Senate.
The CJN swearing-in to take the office took place at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja. By the ceremony, Justice Kekere-Ekun now becomes the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria and the second female justice to become the CJN.
Speaking during the event, President Tinubu harped on the need for framework to uphold and enhance integrity, discipline, and transparency in the judiciary.
‘’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 temperance and sobriety.
‘’The occupant of the office must exude the highest level of integrity in the discharge of their duties. This is more so because of the finality of the Supreme Court’s judgments.
‘’I, therefore, urge your Lordship to be faithful and loyal to the Constitution when discharging your duty as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.
‘’I also encourage you to defend the judiciary’s independence and always promote the cause of justice. It is vital that you strengthen all mechanisms for integrity, discipline, and transparency in the judicial sector, and pursue other reforms or initiatives to sustain and build public confidence in the judiciary,” President Tinubu stated.
He acknowledged the contributions of Justice Kekere-Ekun to the judiciary, in terms of her professional pedigree.
‘’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 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,’’ the President said.
The President noted that the court has played a critical role in resolving complex legal conflicts, even under the military, while particularly noting the role of the Supreme Court in shaping public policies affecting all segments of society. He referenced the recent interpretation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) regarding the financial autonomy of local councils in Nigeria.
President Tinubu assured the judiciary of continued support from his administration in the expeditious improvement of its welfare and capacity.
He cited the appointment of 11 new justices of the Supreme Court in December 2023, which is enabling the court to work efficiently as it attained its full complement of 21 justices for the first time in decades.
The President equally expressed gratitude to the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola in his impressive 32 years of service to the judiciary and the country at larg
The acting CJN who fielded questions from journalists promised to promote the judiciary to new heights, improve its reputation, and sustain public confidence in the judicial system.
She assured that: ’We will make sure that people have more confidence in the judiciary, and I believe that it is not a one-man job. 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 are, 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,’’ the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria said.
Those present at the event include the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed; justices of the Supreme Court, senior judicial officers, and some members of the Federal Executive Council, including the family of the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, led by her spouse, Mr. Akin Kekere-Ekun.
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