The Senate has confirmed Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Lawmakers confirmed her on Wednesday after an interview.
Kekere-Ekun was sworn in by President Bola Tinubu as acting CJN back in August following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
During the interview, she said she would leverage technology to ensure quick dispensation of justice in the country.
She also said there would be no hiding place for corrupt individuals and criminals and pledged to ensure that the judiciary remains independent of external influence.
“Another area for upholding the integrity of the judiciary is that there is a need also to insulate the judiciary from external influence,” she said.
“We are very grateful to His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and the National Assembly for passing the bill that increased the salaries of judicial officers. We are very grateful. But there is still a way to go because when we are talking about the integrity of the judiciary, it involves not only the take-home pay, it also involves infrastructure that we are working with. What is available? Is it conducive?
“These are all things that have an effect on how the judiciary performs. In that regard, I will be pushing for better welfare for judicial officers so that they too can perform at their optimum best.”
Kekere-Ekun was accompanied by other Supreme Court and Court of Appeal justices to the Senate by 12:30 pm on Wednesday.
Her confirmation followed Tinubu’s request sent to the Senate.
Tinubu said his request was in accordance with Section 231(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended which gives the president powers to appoint the CJN on the recommendation of the National Judicial Commission (NJC).
