Facts About Acting CJN, Justice Ariwoola

Justice Olukayode Ariwoola of the Supreme Court, who on Monday took the judicial oath of office as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, was born on 22 August 1958.

He was formerly a Justice of the Court of Appeal and on November 22, 2011, he was appointed to the bench of the supreme court of Nigeria as Justice.

Justice Ariwoola was sworn in as acting CJN, to give room for the approval of the National Judicial Council (NJC), following the resignation of Justice Tanko Muhammad.

The 62-year-old justice, took over from the outgone CJN, justice Tanko Muhammad

He is expected to serve in an acting capacity till further confirmation by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

While taking the judicial oath, he swore to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

This led to the inauguration of the acting CJN, who is the next most senior justice of the Supreme Court at the time of Justice Muhammad’s resignation.
Until his resignation, according to reports, the immediate past CJN was seriously ill.

News of his resignation broke barely a week after 14 justices of the Supreme Court wrote to him to lament the dilapidated state of affairs in the apex court.
In the leaked letter, the justices alleged that Justice Muhammad failed to address the issues raised despite drawing his attention to them.
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They had complained of a lack of residential accommodation and vehicles at the court, alleging that the former CJN was gallivanting with his ‘spouse, children and personal staff’ while not allowing them to travel with an assistant on foreign trips.

But these allegations were denied by an aide to the former CJN.