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JUST IN: Ex-CJN Mohammed Uwais dies at 88

by Nelson Ugwuagbo
written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Uwais, has passed away at the age of 88.

His death was confirmed on Friday by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, Dr Kayode Ajulo, who said the former CJN died in the early hours of the day.

Uwais served as Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1995 until his retirement in 2006. Following his tenure on the bench, he was appointed to chair the Presidential Electoral Reform Committee under the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

The committee included notable members such as Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and human rights advocate, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN.

Funeral arrangements are yet to be made public, while tributes from across the legal, political, and civil society communities are expected in the coming days.

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Nigerian Senate confirms Justice Kekere-Ekun as CJN

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Senate has confirmed Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN.

Her confirmation comes after hours of screening by Nigerian senators on Wednesday.

With the confirmation, Kekere-Ekun becomes the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Leading reporters reports that during her screening, Kekere-Ekun had vowed to sanitize Nigeria’s judiciary.

In August 2024, President Bola Tinubu swore in Kekere-Ekun as the second female CJN in an acting capacity.

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BREAKING: Kekere-Ekun sworn-in as CJN

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has been sworn-in as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

She will operate in acting capacity until conformation by the Senate.

Justice Kekere-Ekun took her Oaths around 11:38am and took her rightful sitting position in the Council Chambers on the left hand side of the President at exactly 11:45am.

Justice Kekere-Ekun is assuming her new role as CJN following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and her nomination and presentation to President Tinubu by the National Judicial Council (NJC) on August 15.

Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, is the second Nigerian female jurist to serve as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, after Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who was the Chief Justice of Nigeria between July 2012 and November, 2014.

Among those who witnessed the event were other Justices of the Supreme Court; the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; the leadership of the House of Representatives, represented by Prof Julius Ihonbvere; the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu; and immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

Also present at were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

Kudirat Kekere-Ekun was born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom. Her journey in the legal profession commenced at the University of Lagos where she obtained her first degree in law in 1980. After she completed the Nigeria Law School, she was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981.

She was awarded a Master of Law in November 1983 at the London School of Economics.

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Ariwoola Retires as CJN

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Justice Olukayode Ariwoola on Thursday, 22nd August, 2024, retired as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Leading reporters gathered that Ariwoola retired upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Justice Ariwoola was born on 22 August 1954. On 22 November 2011, he was elevated to the bench of the Supreme Court and was appointed substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria on 27 June 2022.

Justice Ariwoola was formally confirmed as the CJN by the Nigerian Senate on 21 September 2022.

Prior to his retirement, the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice Of Nigeria (CJN) to take over from Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

This medium reports Kekere-Ekun was recommended to President Bola Tinubu for appointment as the new CJN at the 106th meeting of the NJC, held on August 14 and 15 and presided over by Ariwoola.

The Council also recommended 27 candidates for appointment as judges of state courts and a candidate for appointment as Kadi of the Sharia Court of the FCT, Abuja, to their various governors and the President.

These developments were confirmed by the spokesman for the NJC, Soji Oye, in a statement last week Thursday.

Should Justice Kekere-Ekun take over as the new CJN as expected after Ariwoola’s retirement, she would become the second female justice in Nigeria to hold the exalted position after Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who was CJN between July 2012 and November 2014.

The 66-year-old Kekere-Ekun is the most senior justice of the Supreme Court after Ariwoola, and is favoured to clinch the position.

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BREAKING: Record of Ex-CJN Onnoghen’s CCT Case File Declared Missing in AGF Office

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) has declared that it cannot find the case file for the trial of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Samuel Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, five years after the conclusion of the trial.

Onnoghen was prosecuted in 2019 by the federal government on charges of false declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, found guilty, and removed from office. He was also ordered to forfeit the undeclared assets to the federal government.

However, at the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, the representative of the federal government, Tijani Gazali, informed the court that the AGF office does not have a single paper related to the trial and conviction of the ex-CJN.

Gazali explained that the trial was contracted to a private lawyer, Aliyu Umar, who has since passed away. He appealed to the court to grant an adjournment to enable the government to retrieve necessary documents from the late lawyer’s chambers.

Counsel to the former CJN, Chris Uche, pointed out that some documents were served on the AGF office and acknowledged. He appealed to the court to allow him to move an application for an accelerated hearing, which was granted.

The Court of Appeal has fixed September 19 for the hearing of the appeal.

Onnoghen is praying the court to set aside the judgment of the CCT that removed him from office and ordered the forfeiture of his five bank accounts.

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CJN allegedly nominates daughter as judge six months after appointing son as high court judge

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, is embroiled in allegations of nepotism and cronyism as reports emerge that he has nominated his daughter, Justice Victoria Oluwakemi, for a judicial position in the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

This comes after the CJN was previously accused of securing appointments for his son, Ariwoola Olukayode Jnr, and other relatives within the judiciary.

Documents obtained by Peoples Gazette, along with information from judiciary sources, reveal the nomination of Justice Victoria Oluwakemi.

The CJN had earlier faced criticism for securing a judgeship for his son, Ariwoola Olukayode Jnr, in the Federal High Court.

The reported pattern of appointments within the CJN’s family includes his younger brother, Adebayo Ariwoola, who serves as the auditor of the National Judicial Council, and his nephew, Lateef Ganiyu, who recently gained promotion to the Court of Appeal.

Observers note that several other relatives hold various positions across the judiciary bureaucracy, raising concerns about favouritism.

The CJN’s nomination of his daughter reportedly followed a letter from the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Husseini Baba-Yusuf, informing him of 12 available positions in the court.

In response to the letter dated January 18, 2024, Baba-Yusuf requested nominations from the CJN, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau.

The states mentioned for nominations were Bauchi, Bayelsa, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, and Zamfara.

However, discrepancies were noted as Oyo already had two judges in the FCT High Court, and the state was given an additional slot to accommodate the CJN’s daughter.

Critics argue that the nomination raises questions about judicial independence and fair representation as the CJN continues to face accusations of leveraging his position to advance the careers of his relatives.

The reported nomination of a junior magistrate, Justice Victoria Oluwakemi, who has limited experience, further intensifies concerns among judiciary workers and observers.

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Buhari Writes Senate: Seeks Confirmation For Acting CJN, Others

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the Senate, seeking a confirmation of the nomination of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

This is to replace the former Chief Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad who resigned on June 27, due to health reasons.

The president’s request was contained in a letter dated July 5, 2022, which he sent to Red Chamber.

The letter was read by the Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, at the start of plenary yesterday.

The letter reads: “Pursuant to Section 231(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I forward for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“While I hope that the submission will be considered in the usual expeditious manner, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

In another letter to the Senate dated July 21, 2022, President Buhari requested the upper chamber to confirm the nomination of Dr. Suleiman Agha Afikpo as commissioner representing the South-East zone, at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

He explained that the request is in accordance with the provision of Section 3(2) of the Hajj Commission Act. Cap. 321, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.

The Senate also received a request from President Buhari, to confirm the re-appointment of four nominees as Non-executive directors of the Board of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The request was contained in a latter dated July 21, 2022, and read at the start of plenary by Senate President Lawan.

The president, in the letter, explained that the request to confirm the nominees was made in accordance with Section 10(3)(a) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2007.

The nominees for confirmation include: Prof. Mike Idiahi Obadan (South South), Prof. Justitia Odinakachukwu Nnabuko (South East), Prof. Ummu Ahmed Jalingo (North East), and Mr. Adeola Adetunji (South West).

President Buhari also wrote to the Senate, requesting lawmakers to confirm 19 nominees as Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The confirmation request to the upper chamber which was contained in a letter dated July 25, 2022 was read at plenary by Senate President Lawan yesterday.

President Buhari, in the letter, said that the request for the confirmation of the nominees was in accordance with the provisions of Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

He explained that the nomination of five (5) Resident Electoral Commissioners are for renewal, while the other fourteen (14) are fresh appointments.

The nominees for confirmation include Ibrahim Abdullahi (Adamawa – Renewal); Obo O. Effanga (Cross River – Renewal); Alh. Umar Ibrahim (Taraba – Renewal); Dr. Agboke Mutiu Olaleke (Ogun – Renewal); and Prof. Samuel E. Egwu (Kogi – Renewal).

Others are Onyeka Pauline Ugochi (Imo); Prof. Muhammad Lawal Bashir (Sokoto); Prof. Ayobami Salami (Oyo); Amb. Zango Abdussamadu Abdu (Katsina); Mrs. Queen Elizabeth Agwu (Ebonyi); and Dr. Agundu Oliver Tersoo (Benue).

Also to be confirmed are Yomere Gabriel Oritsemlebi (Delta); Prof. Yahaya Makarfi Ibrahim (Kaduna); Dr. Nura Ali (Kano); Agu Sylvia Uchenna (Enugu); Ahmed Yushau Garki (FCT); Barr. Hudu Yunusa (Bauchi); Prof. Uzochukwu Ikemefuna Chijioke (Anambra); and Mohammed B. Nura (Yobe).

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