Chief Justice of Nigeria


The chief justice of Nigeria or CJN is the head of the judicial arm of the government of Nigeria, and presides over the country's Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council. The current chief justice is Kudirat Kekere-Ekun who was appointed on 22 August 2024. She was appointed acting chief justice of the Federation upon the retirement of incumbent chief justice, Olukayode Ariwoola. The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in Nigeria and its decisions are final. The chief justice of Nigeria is nominated by the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria upon recommendation by the National Judicial Council and is subject to confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The CJN holds office at the pleasure of the Nigerian constitution and can only be removed from office by death or on attainment of age 70 whichever occurs first or by impeachment by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which requires a super majority of the members of the Nigerian Senate.

List of chief justices

The following is a complete list of chief justices.
Chief JusticeTerm
Sir Edwin Speed1914–1918
Sir Ralph Combe1918–1929
Donald Kingdon1929–1946
Sir John Verity1946–1954
Sir Stafford Foster-Sutton1955–1958
Sir Adetokunbo Ademola1958–1972
Taslim Olawale Elias1972–1975
Darnley Arthur Alexander1975–1979
Atanda Fatai Williams1979–1983
George Sodeinde Sowemimo1983–1985
Ayo Gabriel Irikefe1985–1987
Mohammed Bello1987–1995
Mohammed Uwais1995–2006
Salihu Modibbo Alfa Belgore2006–2007
Idris Legbo Kutigi2007–2009
A. I. Katsina-Alu2009–2011
Dahiru Musdapher2011–2012
Aloma Mariam Mukhtar2012–2014
Mahmud Mohammed2014–2016
Walter Onnoghen2017–2019
Tanko Muhammad2019–2022
Olukayode Ariwoola2022–2024
Kudirat Kekere-Ekun2024–present

List of previous chief justices

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;Southern Nigeria