NJC Recommends Kekere-Ekun As CJN, 28 Judges

The National Judicial Council has recommended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to be the next Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The recommendation was made in its 106th meeting, which was presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who recommended Justice Kekere-Ekun, to President Bola Tinubu, for appointment as the next CJN on Thursday in Abuja.

This was contained in a statement by the NJC director of information, Soji Oye.

He said, “This is imperative as Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will formally bow out of office as the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria next week Thursday, August 22, 2024.”

If approved by the president, Justice Kekere-Ekun will become the second female CJN in Nigeria, the first being Justice Mariam Mukhtar, who held the position from July 2012 to November 2014.

The outgoing CJN, Ariwoola, will bow out of the bench on August 22, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70.

NJC also made the recommendations of 27 others as judges of state high courts in the meeting, which will be forwarded to their various state governors and the president for approval.

“The Council also recommends twenty-seven (27) candidates for appointment as judges of state courts and a candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja, to their various state governors and Mr President.”

Here is a full list of others recommended as judges of state courts:

SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF KWARA STATE

1. Olawoyin, Ibijoke Olabisi
2. Abdulrazaq, Fatimah Funsho
3. Folorunsho, Oba Muritala
4. Dikko, Yusuf Adebayo
5. Adeniyi, Oluwatosin Adenike
6. Osuolale-Ajayi, Temitope Olalekan

ONE JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF KADUNA STATE
Zubairu, Murtala Ja’afaru

FOUR JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF BENUE STATE

1. Kor, Vincent Tersoo
2. Ikwulono, Maigida Maimuna
3. Adagba, Nguhemen Julie
4. Tor, Damian Tersugh

TWO JUDGES, CUSTOMARY COURT OF APPEAL, BENUE STATE

1. Onche, Ogah Inalegwu
2. Igba, Theophilus Terhile

EIGHT JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF RIVERS STATE

1. Onyiri, Frank
2. Ugoji, Victor Chinedum
3. Obomanu, Godswill Vidal
4. Oguguo, Rita Chituru
5. Fubara, Alatuwo Elkanah
6. Kokpan, Bariyima Sylvester
7. Obu, Ibietela Innocent Madighi
8. Wifa-Adedipe, Lesi

SIX JUDGES, HIGH COURT OF ONDO STATE

1. Daomi, Williams Adebisi
2. Fabuluje, Adewumi William
3. Ogunwumiju, Mobayonle Idowu
4. Demehin-Ogunbayo, Inumidun Happiness
5. Kpemi, Ojufisintei Justinah
6. Adegoroye, Olufunke Adeola

ONE KADI, SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL, FCT ABUJA
Muhammad, Lawal Munir

All recommended candidates are expected to be sworn in after the approval of the NJC recommendations to the President and their respective state governors.