8th July, 2013
Nnamdi Felix / Abuja
Nigeria’s Supreme Court’s fifth female Justice was on Monday sworn in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN. She is Justice Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun.
At the brief ceremony which took place at the Supreme Court complex in Abuja, the CJN, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, charged the new apex court jurist to dispense justice with fear of God.
Justice Kekere-Ekun was appointed from the Court of Appeal bench.
At the inauguration ceremony, the CJN noted with great joy that the rank of the apex court Justice has been increasing steadily with female Justices since June 8, 2005 when she emerged as the first female Justice of the court.
She charged the new Justice to live up to expectations by discharging her duties without fear or favour and in line with the dictate of her conscience and the oath of office she subscribed to.
The CJN remarked that as Ministers in the temple of Justice and as custodians of the sacred position on earth next to God, Judges must do justices to the satisfaction of not just the parties but the public as well.
“I must say that you have a very heavy responsibility on your shoulders. You must therefore strive hard to discharge your duties in accordance with the oath of office you have just subscribed to by having the fear of the Almighty God in your heart and follow the dictates of your conscience”
The CJN congratulated Justice Kekere- Ekun on her elevation to the highest level of the judiciary adding that the jurist has been found worthy in exceptional qualities to attain the noble feat.
Justice Kekere- Ekun pledged not to betray the trust and confidence reposed in her and noted that she is conscious of the fact that huge trust and confidence have been reposed in her.