The chief justice of Nigeria or CJN is the head of the judicial arm of the government of Nigeria, and presides over the country's Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council.[1] The current chief justice is Kudirat Kekere-Ekun who was appointed on 22 August 2024.[2] She was appointed acting chief justice of the Federation upon the retirement of incumbent chief justice, Olukayode Ariwoola. The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in Nigeria and its decisions are final.[3] The chief justice of Nigeria is nominated by the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria upon recommendation by the National Judicial Council and is subject to confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.[4] The CJN holds office at the pleasure of the Nigerian constitution and can only be removed from office by death or on attainment of age 70 whichever occurs first or by impeachment by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which requires a super majority of the members of the Nigerian Senate.[5]
| Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria | |
|---|---|
since 22 August 2024 | |
| Supreme Court of Nigeria | |
| Style | Madam Chief Justice (informal) Your Honor (within court) The Honorable (formal) |
| Status | Chief justice |
| Member of | Federal judiciary National Judicial Council |
| Seat | Supreme Court Building, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, FCT |
| Appointer | The President with Senate advice and consent |
| Term length | Resignation Death Attainment of age 70 |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Nigeria |
| Formation | 1914 1 October 1963 Supreme Court of Nigeria |
| First holder | Sir Edwin Speed (colonial) Sir Adetokunbo Ademola (Indigenous) |
| Website | http://www.supremecourt.gov.ng/ |
List of chief justices
editThe following is a complete list of chief justices.[6]
| Chief Justice | Term |
|---|---|
| Sir Edwin Speed | 1914–1918 |
| Sir Ralph Combe | 1918–1929 |
| Donald Kingdon | 1929–1946 |
| Sir John Verity | 1946–1954 |
| Sir Stafford Foster-Sutton | 1955–1958 |
| Sir Adetokunbo Ademola | 1958–1972 |
| Taslim Olawale Elias | 1972–1975 |
| Darnley Arthur Alexander | 1975–1979 |
| Atanda Fatai Williams | 1979–1983 |
| George Sodeinde Sowemimo | 1983–1985 |
| Ayo Gabriel Irikefe | 1985–1987 |
| Mohammed Bello | 1987–1995 |
| Mohammed Uwais | 1995–2006 |
| Salihu Modibbo Alfa Belgore | 2006–2007 |
| Idris Legbo Kutigi | 2007–2009 |
| A. I. Katsina-Alu | 2009–2011 |
| Dahiru Musdapher | 2011–2012 |
| Aloma Mariam Mukhtar[7][8] | 2012–2014 |
| Mahmud Mohammed | 2014–2016 |
| Walter Onnoghen | 2017–2019 |
| Tanko Muhammad | 2019–2022 |
| Olukayode Ariwoola | 2022–2024 |
| Kudirat Kekere-Ekun | 2024–present |
List of previous chief justices
edit- Lagos (1863–1929)
- Benjamin Way (?–1866)
- John Carr (1866–?) (West African Settlements Supreme Court)
- George French (1867–1874)
- James Marshall (1874–1886)
- Sir John Salman Smith (1886–1895)
- Sir Thomas Crossley Rayner (1895–1902)
- Sir William Nicholl (1902–1908)
- Northern Nigeria
- Alastair Davidson (1900–1901)
- Henry Cowper Gollan (1901–1905)
- Sir M R Menendez (1905–1908)
- Sir Edwin Speed (1908–1913)
- Southern Nigeria
- Henry Green Kelly (1900–1902)
- Willoughby Osborne (1906–1913)
References
edit- ^ "Constitution". The National Judicial Council. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ "Senate confirms Muhammad as Chief Justice of Nigeria". 17 July 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ "Wike: Finality of Supreme Court decision is sacrosanct". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ "Presidency Forwards Justice Walter Onnoghen's Name to Senate For Confirmation as CJN – PLAC Legist". Retrieved 25 May 2022.
- ^ "Judges retirement age and effective justice system". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20160220234027/http://www.fjsconline.gov.ng/list_of_chife.html Federal Judicial Service Commission, Nigeria
- ^ "ALOMA MUKHTAR: Making of Nigeria's Female CJN". P.M. News. Independent Communications Network Limited. 16 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ "Jonathan swears in Nigeria's first female chief justice". The Punch. Ajibola Ogunsola. 16 July 2012. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
External links
edit- Website of the Supreme Court of Nigeria Archived 10 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- Website of the National Judicial Council