NASFAT President Congratulates Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun
On behalf of NASFAT stakeholders and members globally, I congratulate a woman of substance, high integrity, and her fellow women of judiciary, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun on her appointment as the new chief justice of Nigeria ,the climax of her career as a justice .
I would like to wish her congratulations on becoming the first female muslim to attain this position in Nigeria. Several years ago, I had the privilege of meeting Justice Kudirat Kekere- Ekun , when I was invited for a talk on planning for retirement as a stickbroker to address the magistrates in Lagos central . Even during our brief interaction, I was inspired by her intellect and her warmth – important characteristics that I know she will bring with her to the highest court in the land and consequently at the apex rule of the law
In every respect, she has earned this seat. Her academic credentials, her judicial experience, and her legal acumen prove that she is eminently qualified for this position. First and foremost, it is these qualifications that led to her nomination, appointment and the ultimate confirmation by the legislative arm of government inshaa Allah But we would be remiss to overlook the role of her race and gender on the significance of this historic moment as well as the challenges she faced to arrive at this point and those that she can anticipate for the duration of her career on the bench.
For the government to function at its best, our legislators, executives, and judges must reflect the people for whom our government is intended to serve. The fact that there has never been a muslim woman that has attained this position is an egregious wrong – one that needed a conscientious effort to correct. That is why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was right to commit to nominating a muslim woman to replace Justice Kayode The longer the positiim was permitted to go without the perspective of a Muslim woman, the less legitimate the institution would become.
Muslim women, in particular, have always had a powerful presence in our society. From homes, c-suites, schools, hospitals, and every sector, women of aljant play an integral role in uplifting our communities and strengthening our society. Despite overt and subtle forms of discrimination that have, for so long, actively kept women from realizing their full potential, they have become indispensable leaders in all corners of our nation.
We should certainly celebrate and support Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun for this historic selection. It is always difficult to be the first in anything; serving as the first muslm woman a historically epoch moment in the history of Nigeria Despite all challenges, I have the utmost confidence that Justice Kekere-Ekun is up to the task and that the country will be ready to embrace her.
No matter the mastery of the law she displays on the court, no matter the insightful and eloquent opinions and dissents she writes, no matter the good she does for society by enshrining forward-thinking ideas into law and banishing those that would send our nation backward, it is likely that she will always be plagued by those who question her capability.
As Justice Kekere-Ekun prepares to take her seat as chief justice of Nigeria once again, we are drawn to the conclusion that government is messy, but it works. It often operates more slowly than we would like. But at the end of the day, the government has proven to give us what our society needs. Local government autonomous for transparency and accounting and now a female muslm Chief Justice of Nigeria . So, in addition to wishing her congratulations, we must also express our expectations for Excellence in Truth and Service,
Alhaji Ayodeji AbdulWahid AbdulRauf
NASFAT President
August 2024
