Justice Ariwoola: HURIWA tears retiring CJN apart

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly criticized the retiring Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, stating that his tenure offers little for ordinary Nigerians to celebrate.

Justice Ariwoola has officially retired upon reaching the mandatory retirement age, but his departure has been met with sharp disapproval from HURIWA. The organization described his time as CJN as one of the most disappointing periods in the history of Nigeria’s judiciary, marred by nepotism, alleged corruption, and a disregard for fairness and justice.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA argued that Justice Ariwoola’s leadership left the judiciary in disarray, severely damaging its credibility. The group pointed to the introduction of nepotistic practices in judicial appointments as a key failure of his tenure.

HURIWA specifically criticized the appointment of Justice Ariwoola’s brother, Adebayo Lateef Ariwoola, as the head of the audit department at the National Judicial Council (NJC), a role that reports directly to the Chief Justice, who also serves as the Chairman of the NJC. The association argued that this situation presented a clear conflict of interest, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the NJC’s financial operations.

Furthermore, the association condemned the appointment of Justice Ariwoola’s son, Olukayode Ariwoola Jr., as a Judge of the Federal High Court, a move that sparked widespread public outcry. HURIWA stated that this decision exemplified the deeply entrenched culture of nepotism that had taken root under Justice Ariwoola’s leadership.

HURIWA warned that Justice Ariwoola’s actions had set a dangerous precedent, encouraging similar behavior among other judicial leaders. The group cited the example of the Chief Judge of Abuja, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, who allegedly followed in Justice Ariwoola’s footsteps by appointing his daughter, Maryam Baba-Yusuf, as a judge of the Abuja High Court, alongside other individuals connected to influential politicians, former governors, and ministers.

HURIWA emphasized the dire implications of these actions for the Nigerian judiciary, highlighting a recent remark by a federal court judge who observed that in Nigeria, it is nearly impossible to become a Federal High Court judge without connections to powerful individuals. This, according to HURIWA, underscores the extent to which corruption has tainted the judicial appointment process in the country.