Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has been confirmed as Nigeria’s 23rd Chief Justice (CJN), following a successful Senate confirmation on Wednesday. During a two-hour questioning session, Kekere-Ekun laid out her vision for a modern and more efficient judiciary, focusing on reforms aimed at reducing delays and enhancing the judicial process.
Serving in an acting capacity since August, Kekere-Ekun stressed the importance of digitising the courts to improve case management and accountability. “I will ensure that the courts are digitised. This will make it easier to track cases and call judges to order if they are not expediting matters,” she said.
Among her top priorities is addressing delays in criminal cases, where she intends to promote virtual hearings to expedite proceedings. “Especially in criminal matters, where delays are prevalent, I will encourage virtual hearings to ensure these cases are disposed of quickly,” Kekere-Ekun added.
Another significant aspect of her reform plan involves the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to reduce the number of cases clogging the courts. “In courts, there is always a victor and a vanquished. But with ADR, all parties leave satisfied,” she explained, positioning ADR as a tool for decongesting the judicial system.
Kekere-Ekun also expressed her commitment to prison decongestion, highlighting that virtual hearings could help alleviate delays caused by logistical challenges in producing defendants.
After her presentation, Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele confirmed there were no petitions against her nomination, leading Senate President Godswill Akpabio to conduct a voice vote, sealing her confirmation as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Her appointment marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s judicial system, with the promise of innovation and reforms to improve the administration of justice across the country.