Senate finally confirms Ariwoola as substantive CJN

The Senate, on Wednesday afternoon, confirmed the appointment of Justice Oluwakode Ariwoola as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The decision of the Senate followed the screening of Ariwoola earlier in the day at the Committee of the Whole.

Ariwoola succeeds Justice Tanko Muhammad, who suddenly resigned on June 26, 2022, on health ground.

Earlier during the screening session before his confirmation by the Senate, Ariwoola said Justices of the Supreme did not write any petition against the immediate-past CJN, Tanko Muhammad.

He explained that what transpired was that they came together and put their complaints about lack of deserving trainings, accommodations for some of their colleagues and other embarrassing infractions at the Supreme Court in writing as an internal memo, which was sent to the then CJN Muhammad in person.

He said it was, therefore, embarrassing for them when the content of the memo was leaked to the public.

Recall that Justice Muhammad suddenly resigned as the CJN in the wake of the leaked memo written by his brother-Justices of the apex court.

Also, Justice Ariwoola asked the National Assembly to undertake the necessary amendment of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to allow certain cases to terminate at the Appeal Court.

Ariwoola said by doing so, the workload burden on the Justices of the Supreme Court will be reduced and their efficiency will be enhanced.

Ariwoola made the call on Wednesday while being screened by the Senate in the Committee of the Whole for appointment as a substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Ariwoola noted that alot was wrong with the nation’s judiciary even at the hight level before his appointment, lamenting that the judiciary was underfunded, among others.
He also bemoaned the situation where the apex court is constitutionally supposed to have 21 Justices as full compliment but only operates with 13 Justices only.

On his vision for the judiciary if confirmed as the substantive CJN, Ariwoola said he planned to digitised the Judiciary by introducing technological innovations to ease the work of judicial officers, workers and lawyers.

Ariwoola was appointed as acting CJN on June 26, 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari following the sudden resignation of the then incumbent Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad.

Subsequent, President Buhari forwarded Ariwoola’s name to the Senate for consideration and possible confirmation as the substantive CJN.