Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Nigeria’s Chief Justice, has praised the Constitutional Court of South Africa for its “fearless adjudication, judicial independence, and unwavering fidelity to constitutional values.”
Speaking in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the court’s 30th anniversary celebration, Justice Kekere-Ekun stated that the institution has been “a source of inspiration across the continent and beyond.”
She noted that the court emerged three decades ago as “a beacon of justice and constitutional renewal in a country that had chosen, with courage and conviction, the path of democracy, equality, and the rule of law.”
She said: “Since that transformative moment, the Constitutional Court has stood not only as the guardian of South Africa’s Constitution but as a source of inspiration across the continent and beyond.
“In this Court’s jurisprudence, we have witnessed the power of law to heal a nation, to confront injustice, and to advance human dignity.
“Through fearless adjudication, judicial independence, and unwavering fidelity to constitutional values, you have demonstrated the capacity of courts to be agents of social transformation.”
Kekere-Ekun said the court’s landmark judgments continued to echo far beyond South Africa’s borders, affirming that the Constitution is not merely a legal document, but the living embodiment of the people’s collective will and aspirations.
According to her, the Nigerian judiciary had drawn deep inspiration from the court’s pioneering decisions and principled stance in defence of democratic ideals.
“Your work reminds us all that constitutional courts play a vital role not just in resolving disputes, but in shaping just societies.”
Justice Kekere-Ekun affirmed that the Constitutional Court’s 30th anniversary is a powerful testament to its enduring role as a beacon of constitutionalism and judicial excellence.
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