Kudirat Kekere-Ekun Takes Over From Ariwoola As CJN Despite U.S. Corruption Allegations

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, whose controversial role in a 2020 Supreme Court judgment led to her being denied entry into the United States, has acted as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) in an acting capacity.

Kekere-Ekun’s appointment now awaits confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, where President Bola Tinubu is expected to lend his support. If confirmed, she will officially take over as the head of Nigeria’s judiciary.

She succeeds Justice Kayode Ariwoola, who retired upon reaching the mandatory age 70. Ariwoola’s tenure as the CJN has been marred with several allegations, such as nepotism, age discrepancies and others. 

The National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended Kekere-Ekun for the role in a meeting last week.

Her appointment comes amid ongoing concerns over the integrity of Nigeria’s judicial system and her involvement in the 2020 ruling that declared All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Hope Uzodimma as the winner of the Imo State gubernatorial election, ousting Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Emeka Ihedioha.

The judgment, which placed Mr Uzodimma—a candidate who finished fourth in the election—as the governor of Imo State, sparked widespread controversy and was criticised as one of the most contentious decisions in the history of Nigeria’s Supreme Court.

The ruling’s fallout included the U.S. government rejecting Kekere-Ekun’s visa application, effectively barring her from entry.

Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke alluded to this visa denial in his memoir, highlighting the international repercussions of the ruling.

Justice Dattijo Muhammad, a recently retired Supreme Court justice, has also voiced strong criticism of the current state of the court, describing it as being filled with “judicial bandits” and “bribe-takers,” further casting a shadow over the credibility of the judiciary under Justice Kekere-Ekun’s leadership.

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