The 22nd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has officially retired from service having attained the compulsory retirement age of 70.
Born on August 22, 1954, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola's retirement is the culmination of a distinguished judicial career with immeasurable impacts in the Nation's judicial arm.
The Supreme Court in Abuja held a valedictory session for him on Thursday, August 21, 2024.
Ariwoola spoke at the event about the necessity of putting in place measures to reduce the burden on the Supreme Court.
He clarified that the Appex Court is currently faced with an excessive number of cases that should have been concluded at the Appellate court, also noting that the right machineries be put in place to check this.
Access to justice has largely contributed to the delay in the hearing of cases, with litigants and lawyers having to wait for several years to have their cases decided, according to him.
According to Justice Ariwoola, lawyers and litigants can only be guaranteed a fair hearing if they are not required to wait for so long to have their cases heard. He also stressed the need for the bench to have more judicial officers to adjudicate on all matters timeously.
On November 22, 2011, Justice Ariwoola was appointed to the Supreme Court bench, and on June 27, 2022, he became the substantive CJN appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari after Justice Tanko Muhammad resigned on health grounds.
He was appointed as CJN and confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on September 21, 2022.
In 2011, Ariwoola was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Between 2005 and 2011, he held the position of Justice of the Court of Appeal after being elevated from the State High Court of Oyo State.
At the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), in Ile Ife, he pursued law studies and earned a bachelor of laws degree with honors in July 1980. In July 1981, Ariwoola was called to the Bar and enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor.
Ariwoola clocked 70 today, August 22, 2024.
Meanwhile, the National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to President Bola Tinubu for appointment as the Chief Justice.
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