The new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, is set to swear in 87 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) on Monday, September 30, 2024. The inauguration, which will be her first official assignment as CJN, will take place at the main courtroom of the Supreme Court in Abuja.
This significant event is part of the activities lined up to mark the beginning of the 2024/2025 legal year of the Supreme Court. A statement released on Thursday by Dr. Akande Festus, Director of Information and Public Relations for the court, confirmed that Justice Kekere-Ekun will also deliver a “state-of-the-Judiciary” address during the special court session. This address will review the performance of the Supreme Court and the Nigerian judiciary during the 2023/2024 legal year.
In keeping with tradition, the event will see leading figures from the justice sector deliver speeches on the state of the nation’s justice system. These include the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Chairman of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), among others.
The Supreme Court resumed sitting on Monday, September 23, 2024, following its annual vacation, which began on July 22. However, the formal ceremony to herald the new legal year will be held on Monday, in line with court tradition. According to Dr. Akande, the inauguration ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.
This swearing-in of new SANs is expected to be a significant moment for the new CJN, as she begins her tenure with a focus on upholding judicial integrity and efficiency in the Nigerian legal system.
