Nigeria’s judicial landscape witnessed a groundbreaking moment on Friday, August 23, as Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun ascended to the highest echelon of the judiciary, becoming the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
The elevation of Justice Kekere-Ekun, following the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, marks a significant milestone in the country’s progress towards gender equality and representation in high-level positions.
As she assumes her new role, she faces a multitude of challenges that will test her leadership and vision for the judiciary.
Key Hurdles
One of the major hurdles Justice Kekere-Ekun will have to overcome is the issue of judicial appointments.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has been criticized for its appointment processes, with allegations of nepotism and favoritism. “Justice Kekere-Ekun must commit to transparent processes, including advertisement of judicial vacancies, nomination of candidates, interview, shortlisting, and selection, to restore integrity and merit to judicial appointments,” says Mr. Martin Obong, Executive Director of Justice For All Initiative.
Another critical area that requires attention is the menace of conflicting judgments and abuse of interim injunctions. This has brought immense ridicule to the bench, leading to the flagrant disobedience of court orders. “Justice Kekere-Ekun must initiate measures to restore public trust and ensure judicial efficiency, including monitoring and reporting any interim or ex-parte orders issued by trial judges, with clear consequences for breach of the Judicial Code of Conduct,” notes Mrs. Aisha Bello, a Human Rights activist.
Discipline and accountability are also essential areas that Justice Kekere-Ekun must focus on. Unless the judiciary severely punishes acts of judicial misconduct, it will continue to descend into the abyss.
“The new CJN must introduce mechanisms for increased financial transparency, accountability, and public reporting to restore public trust,” says Folarin Aluko, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association.
Political Cases
Election petitions and political cases are another priority area that Justice Kekere-Ekun must address. The volume of election petitions has become an adverse charge on the credibility of the judiciary, and a burden borne mostly by ordinary litigants who have no election or political business.
“It is very important for the new CJN to ensure that election petitions are disposed of promptly and fairly, and that no elected person assumes office until a tribunal or court is done with petitions challenging their election,” Seun Sofunde, a member of the Young Progressives Party, YPP.
Experts also contend Justice Kekere-Ekun must pursue the streamlining of cases that get to the Supreme Court’s dockets.
Reforming the Supreme Court of Nigeria will necessitate both structural and procedural enhancements to improve its efficiency and effectiveness, according to Mojirayo Ogunkoya, Executive Director of Digitrust Initiative.
In addition to these challenges, Justice Kekere-Ekun must also address the issue of judicial delays and backlog of cases.
The Nigerian judiciary has been criticized for its slow pace, leading to a significant backlog of cases.
Experts enjoin Justice Kekere-Ekun to initiate measures to improve judicial efficiency, including the adoption of technology and the establishment of specialized courts.
Other critical areas
Another critical area that requires attention is the issue of access to justice. Many Nigerians are unable to access justice due to financial constraints, geographical location, or lack of awareness. Justice Kekere-Ekun must initiate measures to improve access to justice, including the establishment of community courts, the adoption of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and the provision of legal aid to vulnerable groups.
As Justice Kekere-Ekun navigates these significant challenges, Nigerians look forward to a judiciary that is efficient, effective, and just.
