On Thursday, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola officially retired as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), urging for measures to ease the overwhelming caseload of the Supreme Court.
He pointed out that numerous cases currently pending before the Supreme Court should have been resolved at the appellate level. During his valedictory session at the Supreme Court in Abuja, Justice Ariwoola highlighted that the delays in hearing cases, largely due to the court’s heavy workload, compromise the right to a fair hearing. He advocated for the appointment of more judicial officers to ensure cases are adjudicated promptly.
The retirement event also featured a public presentation of a book titled *‘Judging With Justice’* in his honor, held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. Notable attendees included Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who has been recommended to succeed Ariwoola as CJN.
Justice Ariwoola’s legal career spans several decades, beginning with his service as a Justice of the Court of Appeal from 2005 to 2011, before being appointed to the Supreme Court in 2011. A graduate of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ariwoola earned his law degree in 1980 and was called to the Bar in 1981. His tenure as acting CJN began in June 2022, following his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, and he was confirmed by the Senate in October 2022.
Ariwoola turned 70 on August 22, 2024.
