Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, previously denied entry to the United States due to a controversial 2020 Supreme Court ruling, has now been appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.
The 66-year-old takes over from Justice Kayode Ariwoola, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 on Thursday.
Following a meeting last week, the National Judicial Council recommended Justice Kekere-Ekun for the position, emphasizing that the judiciary could not afford to leave the top position unoccupied. Justice Kekere-Ekun will now be sent to the Nigerian Senate for confirmation, with President Bola Tinubu expected to facilitate a smooth approval process.
Justice Kekere-Ekun was part of the Supreme Court panel that ruled in favor of APC’s Hope Uzodimma, declaring him the governor of Imo State and ousting PDP’s Emeka Ihedioha. The decision, deemed one of the most controversial in Nigerian judicial history, led to the denial of U.S. visas for several justices involved in the ruling, including Kekere-Ekun.
Former Cross-River Governor Donald Duke referenced this incident in his memoir, highlighting the embarrassment it brought to Nigeria’s judiciary. He revealed that while the justices were barred from attending a legal conference in the U.S., their aides were issued visas.
Recently retired Supreme Court justice Dattijo Muhammad also voiced strong criticism of the judiciary, accusing the court of harboring “judicial bandits” and bribe-takers.
Justice Kekere-Ekun’s appointment continues to fuel discussions about the state of Nigeria’s judiciary and the lingering effects of the controversial Imo governorship ruling.
