President Bola Tinubu has petitioned the Senate to approve Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as Nigeria’s Chief Justice (CJN).

Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, read Tinubu’s letter during plenary on Tuesday.

Tinubu referenced Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution in his letter, which allows him to select the CJN based on the National Judicial Council’s recommendations, subject to Senate confirmation.

The president expressed confidence in her nomination and asked the Senate to move quickly.

“I therefore nominate Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, CON, for confirmation as Chief Justice of Nigeria. In his statement to the parliamentarians, Tinubu remarked, “I trust that this request will be promptly considered and approved by the Senate.”

Senate President Akpabio forwarded the nominee to the Committee of the Whole for consideration during the next legislative session.

In August, the National Judicial Council (NJC) nominated Justice Kekere-Ekun to President Tinubu as the successor to Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the previous Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Justice Ariwoola retired last month, and the 66-year-old jurist has been functioning as Acting CJN since.