As Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun takes the reins as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Lagos lawyers are calling on her to move beyond rhetoric and make significant changes in the judiciary. Their comments follow the Senate’s confirmation of her appointment on Wednesday.
In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, legal practitioners emphasized the need for merit-based appointments to the bench. Anthony Makolo, founder of the MAEF Foundation for Indigent Inmates, highlighted that only qualified individuals should occupy judicial positions. “We need judges with robust legal experience; appointing those without practical backgrounds only hampers our justice system,” he asserted.
Echoing this sentiment, Mrs. Ebere Obiora, Ogun State Coordinator of the African Women Lawyers Association, called for a reevaluation of the electronic filing system for court processes. She described the current system as cumbersome and proposed returning to manual filing to better serve lawyers. “E-filing should be more accessible, allowing lawyers to manage submissions from their offices. The current setup is inefficient and frustrating,” she remarked.
Rights activist Chief Malcom Omirhobo added that Kekere-Ekun should prioritize appointing more Supreme Court justices to handle pressing public interest cases, particularly election petitions. He expressed optimism about her ambitious goals for the judiciary.
Mr. Ogedi Igu, Country Director of Advocacy for Justice and Accountability (AJA), reiterated the importance of upholding the rule of law and promised continued scrutiny of the judiciary’s performance.
At 66, Justice Kekere-Ekun has been acting as CJN since Justice Kayode Ariwoola’s retirement in August. As she embarks on this critical role, the legal community watches closely, hoping for impactful reforms in Nigeria’s judicial landscape.
