The Interim Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun, on Wednesday appeared before Senators for vetting and confirmation as the substantive Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
The screening came after the Senate received a letter from President Bola Tinubu, which was presented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at Tuesday’s plenary session.
During the hearing on Wednesday, Kekere Ekun declared that all pre-election matters must be concluded by the Court of Appeal.
“All pre-election issues will be concluded at the Court of Appeal. I have zero tolerance for corruption,” she said.
She also expressed aversion to corruption in the judiciary and said she would not tolerate any form of corruption.
Justice Kekere Ekun, who was sworn in as interim Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by President Bola Tinubu, made the assertion during the Senate vetting for confirmation as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Kekere Ekun has been acting since August following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwula.
In his letter to the Senate, President Tinubu cited Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which he said empowers the President to appoint the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to the approval of the Senate.
“I hereby submit my nomination papers for confirmation of Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun (CON) as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” Tinubu wrote in the letter.
“I trust that this request will be promptly considered and approved by the Senate.”
The Senate President then referred the nomination to a committee of the whole for further consideration, scheduled for Wednesday.
If confirmed, Justice Kekere Ekun will become Nigeria’s 23rd substantive Chief Justice and the second female Chief Justice in the country’s history.
The Senate suspended routine rules during the debate and allowed visitors, including Supreme Court justices, members of the judiciary and the senior presidential adviser for parliamentary affairs, into the chamber.
