CJN Kayode Ariwoola Officially Retires

Justice Olukayode Ariwoola officially retired as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Thursday, August 22, 2024, capping a lengthy judicial career.

During a valedictory session given in his honour at the Supreme Court in Abuja, Justice Ariwoola emphasised the critical need for reforms to lessen the Supreme Court’s enormous workload.

In his speech, Justice Ariwoola emphasised that the Supreme Court is overburdened with matters that should have been decided at the appellate court level, causing to severe delays in the judicial system. He emphasised that the right to a fair hearing is jeopardised when litigants and lawyers must wait several years for their cases to be resolved.

Justice Ariwoola advocated for the recruitment of more judicial officials to ensure speedy adjudication of cases and emphasised the significance of implementing measures to reduce the number of cases that reach the Supreme Court.

Several dignitaries attended the retirement ceremony, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who was proposed by the National Judicial Council to succeed Justice Ariwoola as CJN. Justices from the Supreme and Appeal Courts also attended the occasion.

Following the valedictory session, a public presentation of the book Judging With Justice, authored in honour of Justice Ariwoola, was presented in Abuja’s International Conference Centre.

Justice Ariwoola was appointed to the Nigerian Supreme Court in 2011, having previously served as a Justice of the Court of Appeal from 2005 to 2011.

His legal education began at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife, where he received a Bachelor of Laws degree with honours in July 1980. In July 1981, he was called to the bar.

Ariwoola was named acting CJN by then-President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2022, after Justice Tanko Muhammad resigned due to health reasons. He was confirmed and sworn in as the CJN in October 2022.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli