Responsibilities of the office
Supreme Court leadership
Heads Nigeria’s apex court and carries judicial and administrative responsibilities within the constitutional framework.
Deciding cases
Participates in the Court’s work through properly constituted panels. Judgments depend on the applicable law, evidence and judicial process.
National Judicial Council
Chairs the NJC, which has constitutional responsibilities concerning judicial appointments and discipline. These are council processes, not a personal power exercised without procedure.
Judicial administration
Provides institutional leadership on the administration of justice and matters assigned to the office by law.
Independence and limits
Courts exercise judicial power separately from the executive and legislature. The Chief Justice is not subordinate to a minister in deciding cases.
About Kudirat Kekere-Ekun
Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun is Chief Justice of Nigeria. She leads the Supreme Court and chairs the National Judicial Council.
Early life and legal education
Born on 7 May 1958, she obtained a law degree from the University of Lagos in 1980 and was called to the Bar in July 1981. She completed an LLM at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1983.
From legal practice to the bench
After working in private practice, Kekere-Ekun joined the Lagos State magistracy in 1989. She became a High Court judge in July 1996 and later served on the Court of Appeal from September 2004. Her appellate service included presiding assignments in Makurdi and Akure.
Supreme Court and judicial leadership
She joined the Supreme Court in July 2013. Following an acting appointment in August 2024, she became substantive Chief Justice on 30 September 2024.
Understanding judicial independence
The Chief Justice is a judicial officer, not a member of the President’s cabinet. Courts decide cases through legal proceedings. Judicial leadership and administrative responsibilities do not give the Chief Justice a personal power to decide every case heard across Nigeria.
