On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, the Senate confirmed Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), following her tenure as acting CJN. During her screening, Justice Kekere-Ekun made key proposals aimed at reforming the judiciary.
One of her major recommendations was that pre-election cases should be resolved at the Appeal Court, preventing them from reaching the Supreme Court, in order to reduce the caseload at the highest judicial level and speed up the resolution process.
Justice Kekere-Ekun also advocated for a more rigorous and stringent process in the appointment of judges, emphasizing the need for high standards in the judiciary to ensure competence and fairness.
She further called for harsher penalties for judicial officers found guilty of issuing conflicting judgments, stressing that such actions undermine public trust in the judicial system.
Pledging to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, Justice Kekere-Ekun vowed to maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption within the judicial sector.
She also committed to safeguarding the judiciary from external pressures and influences, reinforcing the need for an independent and impartial judicial system in Nigeria.
Her confirmation was widely anticipated, and her leadership is expected to bring about significant reforms in the Nigerian judiciary.