CJN Kekere-Ekun Rated Low in One-Year Performance Review by Tap Initiative
Tap Initiative, a Nigerian civic advocacy organisation, has delivered a critical assessment of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Kudirat Kekere‑Ekun’s first year in office, rating her performance as below expectations in its annual judicial leadership review.
The report was released exactly one year after Justice Kekere‑Ekun assumed the role as head of the nation’s judiciary, following her swearing‑in by the Tinubu administration in August 2024.
Prior to her appointment, Tap Initiative had set out a detailed Key Performance Index (KPI) for the incoming CJN, outlining measurable benchmarks for reform and institutional strengthening within the judiciary.
These expectations included ending the persistent abuse of ex parte orders by political actors, enforcing judicial discipline, implementing a nationwide digital court system, and restoring public trust in the judiciary amid allegations of corruption and bias.
In its review, the organisation concluded that “tangible reforms remained elusive” under the CJN’s leadership. While acknowledging her role in facilitating the retirement of judges on age grounds and probing allegations of falsified birth records, Tap Initiative described her leadership style as risk‑averse, relying on speeches and moral persuasion rather than structural reforms, a posture it deemed inadequate for a judiciary in crisis.
The review further observed that although Justice Kekere‑Ekun had clearly articulated the systemic challenges facing the judiciary, there was little evidence of concrete, sustained reform implementation over the past year.
Specific gaps identified included the absence of a nationwide rollout of digital court processes, lack of decisive disciplinary measures against erring or underperforming judges, and no clear strategy to address the backlog of cases in the appellate courts. The group also noted the absence of new guidelines or policy frameworks to close judicial loopholes that could be exploited during election disputes.
Tap Initiative added that public confidence in the judiciary had not improved since the CJN took office, citing both survey data and her own public statements. It also criticised the continued practice of judges queuing to receive vehicles and housing from the executive, a gesture it warned could undermine judicial independence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
