- Tinubu Returns From France, To Swear In Kekere-Ekun As CJN
- Urges Nigerian Judiciary To Live Up To Its Constitutional Mandate
- NBA Seeks Judicial Improvement To Justify Increased Salaries
A new era will begin at the Supreme Court as President Bola Ahmed will today swear in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the next Chief Justice Of Nigeria (CJN).
Justice Kekere-Ekun will succeed Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who bowed out on Thursday after clocking the retirement age of 70 years.
The Matrix gathers that the President returned to the country late on Thursday Night from his trip to France to conduct the swearing in ceremony.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) had on August 15, 2024 recommended Kekere-Ekun to the president as Ariwoola’s successor during the NJC’s 106th meeting presided over by the new out gone CJN, Justice Kayode Ariwoola.
READ ALSO: NJC Recommends Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun As CJN, To Succeed Ariwoola
By constitutional provision, Kekere-Ekun is meant to assume the office of CJN in acting capacity as the next most senior justice of the supreme court.
However, her assumption of the office is not automatic.
Confirming the development, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that Kekere Ekun’s swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The President also congratulated Ariwoola, whose stint in the judiciary he described as a “successful public service career,” commending him for his services to the nation.
“President Bola Tinubu congratulates Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, as he retires as Chief Justice of Nigeria after a successful public service career,” the statement read.
“President Tinubu will swear in Justice Ariwoola’s successor at the State House Council Chambers on August 23, 2024.
“President Tinubu commends the eminent jurist for his services to the nation, noting his impactful leadership of the judiciary and his efforts in enriching Nigerian jurisprudence, as well as in strengthening the fibre of the law.”
Meanwhile, the President has urged the Nigerian Judiciary to live up to its expectation and shun those who only criticize the judiciary when the pendulum of justice does not swing towards their direction.
Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made the call at the public presentation of the book, “Judging With Justice”, an autobiography of the immediate past Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola in Abuja.
“I urge the Nigerian judiciary to live up to its constitutional mandate and ignore those who never see anything good in the judiciary unless the pendulum of justice swings their way,” Tinubu said.
He noted that the pension of judicial officers have been firmly secured as retired justices will now enjoy their last salaries as their pension for life.
READ ALSO: President Of Appeal Court, 26 Others Under NJC Probe
The event, which was chaired by former Head of State, Abdusalami Abubakar, was held at the International Conference Centre Abuja, a few hours after the official retirement of Justice Ariwoola.
Other guests at the occasion included Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who has been recommended to President Bola Tinubu by the National Judicial Council to take over from Justice Ariwoola, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Ooni of Ife, as well as Justices of the Supreme and Appeal Courts.
In another development, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the Judiciary to justify the recent improvement in its remuneration.
In a statement signed by the NBA president, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Yakubu Maikyau, the association noted that the judiciary must make a deliberate and conscious effort to work back into the hearts of Nigerians and revive public confidence in that arm of government.
While applauding the efforts that went into enacting the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Act, 2024, the NBA also called on the National and State Houses of Assembly to seriously consider the inclusion of Magistrates within the definition of Judicial Officers in the Constitution in the ongoing Constitutional review.
“The Magistrates across the Country are responsible for the handling of most criminal matters at the lower level of the society, and the institution of the magistracy across the states needs to be strengthened and better funded, to help improve grassroots justice delivery and curb the menace of criminal activities in our society”.
Also, other Judiciary staff; Registrars, Legal Assistants and other court workers, must similarly be catered for, if the improvement of the welfare of Justices and Judges is to make any meaningful impact on the overall justice delivery process in the courts”.
The association says going forward, the focus of the NBA will be on identifying and responding to issues that are fundamental to the continued strengthening of the judiciary.
These include matters of appointment, discipline and elevation of judicial officers. The need to strengthen judicial oversight bodies is no less important.
The NBA President also expressed confidence that his successor, Afam Osigwe, the NBA president-elect, will prioritise the issues when he takes office later this month.
It would be recalled that, President Tinubu on August 9, 2024, signed the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Act, 2024 which recommends a 300% increase for judicial workers.
