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MEET Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun, Biography, Career, Age, State of Origin
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
As Justice Olukayode Ariwoola prepares to step down on August 22, 2024, the 66-year-old Justice Kekere-Ekun will soon be appointed as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun Biography, Career, Age, State of Origin and Controversy can be accessed below.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun is next in line to take on one of Nigeria’s most prestigious judicial roles, following her recommendation by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria.
As Justice Olukayode Ariwoola prepares to step down on August 22, 2024, the 66-year-old Justice Kekere-Ekun will soon be appointed as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria subject to confirmation by the Senate.
This development, announced via an NJC statement on August 15, 2024, marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s judiciary.
Justice Kekere-Ekun’s extensive legal career, spanning from the early 1980s to her recent tenure as a Supreme Court Justice, positions her as a highly qualified leader for the nation’s judiciary.
Kudirat Kekere Ekun Biography
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has had an illustrious career she was born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom, and began her education in private primary schools before attending Queen’s College, Lagos in 1970.
This school, renowned as the premier Federal Government College for girls at the time, set the stage for her future academic excellence.
In 1977, she embarked on her legal studies at the University of Lagos, where she earned her LL.B degree in 1980. The following year, she attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1981.
Her early legal career began with a compulsory National Youth Service assignment at the Ministry of Justice in Benin City, Bendel State (now Edo State).
Her pursuit of higher education took her to the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where she obtained a master’s degree in law in 1983.
From Private Practice to the Bench
Justice Kekere-Ekun’s legal journey began in private practice from 1985 to 1989, before she was appointed a Senior Magistrate Grade II in the Lagos State Judiciary in December 1989.
Her ascent in the judiciary continued when she was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State on July 19, 1996.
During this period, she also served as Chairman of the Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos, from November 1996 to May 1999, where she dealt with some of the most challenging criminal cases of the time.
Hon. Justice Kekere-ekun was elevated to the Court of Appeal on 22nd September 2004.
She served as a member of the Court of Appeal ICT Committee from June 2011 to July 2013, where she contributed to enhancing the court’s technological capabilities.
She also served as presiding Justice of two Divisions of the Court (Makurdi & Akure) in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
Over the years, she has participated in various professional development courses and seminars both within Nigeria and internationally.
Notable among these are the Case Management and Court Administration Training Workshop organized by the National Centre for State Courts in June 2001, an ICT Training Course on Information Technology Infrastructure Library held in Dubai, UAE in July 2012, and the 34th Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime at Cambridge University, UK, in September 2016.
Kekere-Ekun played a pivotal role as the lead judge in one of the most controversial judgments in Nigeria’s post-independence history. In January 2020, she delivered the judgment in the case that declared Hope Uzodinma as the lawful governor of Imo State.
The decision was based on the claim that results from 388 polling units, where Uzodinma was leading, had not been included in the original count.
On June 8, 2013, Justice Kekere-Ekun reached a milestone when she was promoted to the Supreme Court of Nigeria as the fifth female Justice of the Court. Her appointment marked her as one of the youngest women ever to hold this esteemed position.
Beyond her judicial responsibilities, Justice Kekere-Ekun is a prominent figure in the global legal community. She is a life Bencher and a member of several professional organizations.
Notably, she is an active member of the International Association of Women Judges, where she currently serves as President, advocating for gender equality and the empowerment of women in the judiciary.
The First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, on Saturday, refuted reports that she will be leading a seven-day national prayer for Nigeria.
This followed a report last week that Mrs Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Mrs Nuhu Ribadu, will spearhead a national prayer session to tackle the country’s numerous challenges.
The reports quoted the Director-General of the National Prayer Forum, Segun Afolorunikan, announcing the event in Abuja.
Afolorunikan had said the initiative, coordinated with Christian and Muslim religious leaders, intends to seek divine intervention for the country’s socio-economic and security issues, under the theme ‘Seeking the Intervention of God in Nigeria’s Affairs.’
“Christians will meet at the National Ecumenical Centre for a week of intense prayer, with prayer warriors from various denominations focusing their efforts on the nation’s adversities,” said the convener.
However, the First Lady has denied knowing any such arrangement saying a call for prayer must be done “willingly, conscientiously and correctly.”
Mrs Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Busola Kukoyi, conveyed this in a statement she signed Saturday titled ‘First Lady of Nigeria Oluremi Tinubu, CON refutes organising national prayer.’
It read, “This is to clarify and inform the general public that the First Lady of Nigeria is not organising a national prayer.
“The news making rounds in some conventional and social media platforms is unfounded and misleading.
“Consequently, anyone who might have come across the purported news of the joint National Prayer for Nigeria should disregard it as false.”
Kukoyi said the First Lady, a Christian and strong advocate of prayer and praying for Nigeria, believes that prayer is an act that must be done willingly, conscientiously and correctly.
“She also believes that praying for Nigeria is the responsibility of every Nigerian, irrespective of religious belief, political affiliation, tribe or tongue.
“Members of the public are advised to verify the authenticity of any news or event involving the First Lady of Nigeria or her office through official channels,” the statement concluded.
A building of 25 shops has been gutted by fire in the early hours of Saturday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
According to the state fire service, the incident occurred at Adeta roundabout at about 02.39 hours.
A statement in Ilorin on Saturday by the spokesman of the service, Hassan Adekunle, said the firefighters, upon arrival, found a block of about 25 shops engulfed in flames.
“Thanks to the swift action and bravery of the Kwara State fire service officers, only three shops suffered damage, including a soft drinks and alcohol shop.
“Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire was caused by a power surge,” the statement disclosed.
The Director of the State Fire Service, Prince John Falade Olumuyiwa, expressed sympathy for the affected shop owners, offering prayers for the restoration of their losses.
He also urged the public to prioritize safety and ensure all electrical appliances are unplugged when not in use.
The newly emerged terror group known as Lakurawa, is reportedly offering as much as one million naira to young men in exchange for their allegiance.
This was made known on Saturday by Zagazola Makama, a Lake Chad Basin counterterrorism and insurgency expert, in a post on his X handle.
Makama disclosed that an impeccable source informed him that Lakurawa, allegedly composed of individuals from Mali, Chad, Libya, Niger, and Burkina Faso, was actively recruiting local youths in Sokoto through substantial financial incentives.
He stated that according to witnesses’ accounts, the financial lure is part of an aggressive recruitment campaign aimed at attracting followers to their cause.
The security expert said that Lakurawa, unlike traditional criminal gangs, reportedly adhere to extremist ideologies linked to the Khawarij sect, similar to the beliefs of Boko Haram.
Makama added: “Local sources suggest that they employ a combination of financial incentives and ideological influence to gain support among vulnerable communities.
“Beyond the recruitment, the Lakurawa reportedly confront and expel bandits and confiscate their cattle in areas under their control.
Watch video below:
https://twitter.com/ZagazOlaMakama/status/1855319733282758848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
First Lady denies leading national prayer
25 Shops destroyed as fire guts building in Ilorin
New terror group Lakurawa offers N1m incentives to recruit Sokoto youths + Video
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