The year 2024 witnessed several changes in the judiciary— Kudirat Kekere-Ekun succeeded the retired Kayode Ariwoola as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), and judges received a significant increment in their remuneration. Despite these developments, the institution’s credibility was undermined by some inexplicable orders from the bench.
In this review, PREMIUM TIMES examines the major events that defined the judiciary last year and how these events will shape perceptions of the institution going forward.
Appointment of Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as CJN: A new era?
In August, former CJN Ariwoola retired upon clocking 70, the statutory retirement age for judicial officers. In line with established practice, Mrs Kekere-Ekun, the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court at the time, was nominated as Acting CJN and subsequently confirmed for the position by the Senate.
To many critics of the former CJN, his departure was a relief. They said his tenure was marked by a further decline in public trust and confidence in the judiciary, with alleged nepotism in appointing close relations to positions counted among his “many sins.”
Mrs Kekere-Ekun assumed office amidst growing calls for urgent reforms to address inefficiencies, delayed justice, perceived political interference, bribery, and incompetence. However, she is not an outsider, having served on the Supreme Court since 2013. She was also part of the panel that delivered the controversial judgement leading to Hope Uzodinma’s emergence as Governor of Imo State.
She appears aware of the judiciary’s image problem, acknowledging that a few judges have tarnished its reputation while insisting that the judiciary is blessed with upright and courageous judges.
Agbo Pius, a lawyer, noted that Mrs Kekere-Ekun faces significant challenges that require immediate reforms to strengthen the judiciary. He urged her to ensure judicial independence by shielding judges from external pressures, reducing case backlogs through efficient management systems, and fostering accountability and transparency via robust disciplinary mechanisms.
Mr Pius also advised Mrs Kekere-Ekun to modernise infrastructure, leverage digital technology, and implement regular capacity-building programmes for judicial staff to create a fair, efficient, and trustworthy justice system.
Although 2024 was insufficient to assess Mrs Kekere-Ekun’s performance, 2025 will provide a more substantial opportunity to evaluate her impact.
