Kudirat Kekere-Ekun is new Chief Justice of Nigeria

By Mark Ogagan

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, 66, has been appointed the new Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Ms. Kekere-Ekun, who was denied entry to the United States following a 2020 controversial judgement that declared APC’s Hope Uzodimma as Imo governor, took over the reins of the Nigerian judiciary in an acting capacity from Justice Kayode Ariwoola, who clocked the mandatory retirement age of 70 on Thursday.

The National Judicial Council recommended Ms Kekere-Ekun as the judiciary chief in a meeting last week, asserting the seat was too crucial to be left vacant.

The U.S. government rejected the visa application of Ms Kekere-Ekun, who was among a panel of justices that sacked PDP’s Emeka Ihedioha from the Imo governorship seat and pronounced Mr. Uzodimma winner of the hotly-contested polls.

Kekere-Ekun will be sent to the Nigerian Senate for confirmation, as President Bola Tinubu is expected her to scale through easily.