Lagos lawyers applaud NJC’s nomination of Justice Kekere-Ekun as CJN

Lagos-based lawyers have praised the National Judicial Council’s (NJC) recommendation of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The NJC, during its 106th meeting, recommended Kekere-Ekun for appointment by President Bola Tinubu.

Human Rights Activist Malachy Ugwummadu, in an interview on Monday, lauded Kekere-Ekun as a thorough and patient judge with a deep understanding of the law.

Ugwummadu, a former National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), described her as a composed judge who commands respect in her courtroom and handles cases with precision and wisdom.

He expressed optimism that her leadership would bring significant improvements to the judiciary.

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“This is one of the most promising and exciting developments in the legal field,” Ugwummadu said. “Having appeared before Justice Kekere-Ekun in Lagos High Court and followed her career to the Supreme Court, I can attest to her exceptional qualities as a jurist.”

He added that despite challenges in the judicial sector, he believes Kekere-Ekun will bring her moral authority, energy, and legal expertise to bear on the administration of justice.

Ugwummadu also noted the recent presidential assent to a 300 per cent salary increase for judicial officers, which he believes will positively impact Kekere-Ekun’s tenure.

Ige Asemudara, Founder of Mission Against Injustice in Nigeria, also supported the nomination, citing Kekere-Ekun’s competence and unblemished record.

He urged her to address the backlog of cases at the Supreme Court and to reform the regulatory framework for the legal profession and the disciplining of judges.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Victor Okpara called the nomination “a round peg in a round hole,” praising Kekere-Ekun’s exemplary judicial career.

Another Lagos-based lawyer, Dr. Yemi Omodele, described the recommendation as well-deserved and urged the federal government to confirm it swiftly. He anticipated that her tenure would bring intellectual, radical, and judicial changes to Nigeria’s judiciary.

If confirmed, Justice Kekere-Ekun will become Nigeria’s second female CJN, following Maryam Mukhtar, who served from July 2012 to November 2014