President Bola Tinubu has officially sworn in Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). The ceremony took place at the council chambers of Aso Rock Villa on Monday, following her confirmation by the Senate last week.
Kekere-Ekun, Nigeria’s 23rd CJN and the second woman in the country’s history to hold the position, had been serving in an acting capacity since August after the retirement of her predecessor, Olukayode Ariwoola.
During her Senate confirmation hearing, Kekere-Ekun outlined several judicial reforms she plans to implement. One key area of focus is the digitization of court processes to enhance efficiency and accountability. “It will make it easier to track cases, and judges can be held accountable if cases are not handled promptly,” she stated.
She also emphasized the need to expedite criminal cases through virtual hearings, explaining that delays often stem from challenges in producing defendants in court. Kekere-Ekun is committed to reducing these delays and prioritizing prison decongestion efforts.
“We will encourage virtual hearings to ensure criminal matters are resolved swiftly,” she said, stressing that this will be a key part of her efforts to reform the judiciary.
