The newly sworn in acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has pledged to elevate the judiciary’s standing and enhance its reputation.
On Friday, President Bola Tinubu administered the oath of office to Justice Kekere-Ekun, formally appointing her as the acting CJN, pending Senate confirmation.
Following her swearing-in at the State House’s Council Chamber in Abuja, the Acting CJN addressed journalists, outlining her vision for the judiciary.
“My goal is to propel the judiciary to new heights, boosting its credibility and fostering greater public trust,” she stated.
Kekere-Ekun stressed that this endeavour requires collective effort, acknowledging that everyone recognises areas for improvement and will work together to achieve a more effective judiciary.
She stressed that a robust judiciary benefits the entire nation, urging individuals to take ownership of driving positive change.
Kekere-Ekun highlighted key areas of focus, including rigorous appointment processes, discipline among judges and lawyers, and faith in the judicial system.
She expressed confidence that, by the end of her tenure, the judiciary will have transformed into an institution that inspires national pride.
The Acting CJN said, “My expectation is to take the judiciary to higher heights; we will improve the reputation that it has and ensure people have more confidence in the judiciary.
“I believe that it’s not one man’s job; we all have to be onboard and because we all see the areas for improvement, there will be cooperation. We all want to see a better judiciary and a better judiciary is for the benefit of the whole nation.
“Whatever the shortcomings that we see today, we are all members of society, so if we want to see improvement, let it start with each and every one of us. Let us all have faith in the system.
“Let’s be more particular about the process of appointments and discipline on the bench and bar. I believe that at the end of my tenure we will have a judiciary we can all be proud of.”
