Kudirat Kekere-Ekun: Tinubu’s full speech at swearing in of CJN

I warmly welcome you all to this momentous ceremony to witness a sacred and significant event in the life of our nation: the swearing-in of a distinguished jurist, the Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, CFR, as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.

She comes in following the retirement of another illustrious jurist, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, who bowed out gracefully after long years of service to our country. Our country owes Honourable Justice Ariwoola a debt of gratitude for his outstanding contributions to the administration of justice.

Nigeria’s acting Chief Justice, Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, comes to this position with an admirable family and professional pedigree. Over the years, she established a respectable and incorruptible reputation within the bar and the bench, which has served the course of justice.

Her meteoric rise from the Magistracy 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 contributions to the growth of the Nigerian judiciary and our legal system have been remarkable. We are inspired by her unwavering commitment to higher ideals of upholding the principles of justice and fairness.

Justice Kekere-Ekun is a brilliant lawyer who was called to the bar in 1981. She is now a trailblazer, becoming the second woman to hold this esteemed position after Hon. Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, GCON, who served as the CJN from 16 July 2012 to 20 November 2014. Justice Kekere-Ekun’s ascension to this position is a beacon of hope for young women who aspire to break the glass ceiling and make a meaningful impact on our society.

The Nigerian Supreme Court has come a long way since it was empowered by the 1963 Republican Constitution to take over from the then Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the highest court in our judicial hierarchy.

Since then, it has played a critical role in the evolution of our country, resolving complex legal conflicts, even under the military and shaping public policies that impact all segments of Nigerian society.

Late Justice Thurgood Marshall, the American civil rights lawyer and first African American justice of the US Supreme Court, once said:  “The Constitution is not a static document, but rather a living instrument that must be adapted to the changing needs of society.”

Following this entrenched tradition of the apex court, our Supreme Court, under our constitutional democracy, also recently interpreted the 1999 Constitution regarding the financial autonomy of the 774 local councils. To quote Marshall again: “It is, emphatically, the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.”

We expect the apex court to continue to play a critical role in the evolution of our constitutional democracy and shape public policies that impact all segments of Nigerian society.

I want to assure you that my administration will continue to provide appropriate support to improve the welfare and capacity of the judiciary, ease the administration of justice, and promote the rule of law in Nigeria. This consideration informed the expedited passage by the National Assembly and my consent to the Judicial Office Holders Act, 2024, which approved a 300% increase in the remuneration of judicial officers. This cam