NJC Recommends Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as CJN 

Alex Enumah in Abuja 

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun for the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Justice Kekere-ekun is the next most senior in line to outgoing CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who bows out of office come August 22, when he clocks 70 years.

The decision to allow Kekere-Ekun, who will be the second female to occupy the office was taken at the council’s meeting which held on Wednesday and Thursday in Abuja.

“The National Judicial Council at its 106th meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, held on August 14 &15, 2024, recommended Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“This is imperative as Justice Olukayode Ariwoola will formally bow out of office as the Chief Justice of Nigeria next week Thursday, 22 August, 2024,” a statement by the NJC’s Director, Information, Mr Soji Oye, disclosed on Thursday.

The statement disclosed that the NJC also recommended 27 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 and Mr. President.

According to the statement, six persons were recommended as judges in Kwara State and they are Olawoyin, Ibijoke Olabisi; Abdulrazaq, Fatimah Funsho; Folorunsho, Oba Muritala; Dikko, Yusuf Adebayo; Adeniyi, Oluwatosin Adenike and Osuolale-Ajayi, Temitope Olalekan.

Kaduna State has one in the person of Zubairu, Murtala Ja’afaru, while Benue State has four and they are Kor, Vincent Tersoo;  Ikwulono, Maigida Maimuna; Adagba, Nguhemen Julie and Tor, Damian Tersugh.

Also, two persons — Onche Ogah Inalegwu and Igba Theophilus Terhile — were recommended as judges of the Benue State Customary Court of Appeal.

The NJC similarly recommended eight persons as judges for the Rivers State High Court and they are Onyiri, Frank; Ugoji, Victor Chinedum; Obomanu, Godswill Vidal; Oguguo, Rita Chituru; Fubara, Alatuwo Elkanah; Kokpan, Bariyima Sylvester; Obu, Ibietela Innocent Madighi and Wifa-Adedipe, Lesi

Ondo State also has six persons recommended as judges of the state High Court. They are Daomi, Williams Adebisi; Fabuluje, Adewumi William; Ogunwumiju, Mobayonle, Idowu; Demehin-Ogunbayo, Inumidun Happiness; Kpemi, Ojufisintei Justinah and Adegoroye, Olufunke Adeola.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Lawal Munir was recommended as Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, FCT.

“All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the president and their respective state governors,” the statement added.