By Oluwatosin Adeyemi
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun’s name will be submitted by the National Judicial Council to President Bola Tinubu today (Friday) for his approval as the country’s next chief justice.
This is the next move in response to the NJC’s recommendation, which was made on Thursday during its 106th meeting. The meeting was chaired by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, who suggested that her name be forwarded to the President for consideration as the nation’s next Chief Justice of Nigeria.
The media was informed by NJC Director of Information Soji Oye that, as the meeting was already over, Justice Kekere-Ekun’s name needed to be approved by the President.
“The meeting just ended, so tomorrow, My Lord’s name will be brought before the President for his approval of her as the next CJN,” he declared.
Due to Justice Ariwoola’s official retirement as the Chief Justice of the Philippines on Thursday, August 22, 2024, this is a must.
Judge Kekere-Ekun, if the President gives her approval, will succeed Justice Mariam Mukhtar as the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria. Mukhtar served in that capacity from July 2012 until November 2014.
At the same time, the NJC recommended 27 other people to be state high court judges and one Khadi during its meeting on Thursday. The names of these candidates would then be sent to the president and the governors of the respective states for approval.
“The council also recommends to their respective state governors and Mr. President 27 candidates for appointment as judges of state courts and one candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” stated Oye.
Following the president’s and each state governor’s approval, all suggested candidates should be sworn in.
There are six contenders for the position of Kwara State High Court. They are Olawoyin Olabisi, Osuolale-Ajayi Olalekan, Dikko Adebayo, Abdulrazaq Funsho, Folorunsho Muritala, and Adeniyi Adenike.
For Kaduna State, there is only one candidate: Zubairu Ja’afaru. Adagba Julie, Kor Tersoo, Ikwulono Maimuna, and Tor Tersugh are the four candidates from Benue State.
Igba Terhile and Onche Inalegwu are the other two contenders for the traditional court of appeal from Benue.
Onyiri Frank, Ugoji Chinedum, Obomanu Vidal, Oguguo Chituru, Fubara Elkanah, Kokpan Sylvester, Obu Madighi, and Wifa-Adedipe Lesi are Rivers’ eight contenders for the high court.
Six candidates are running for the Ondo high court: Adegoroye Adeola, Demehin-Ogunbayo Happiness, Ogunwumiju Idowu, Daomi Adebisi, and Fabuluje William.
