Olukayode Ariwoola, the newly sworn-in acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) has debunked rumours of a festering crisis at the Supreme Court, adding that the issues of welfare of his brother justices are being addressed.
President Muhammadu Buhari swore in Ariwoola on Monday to replace Tanko Muhammad, the immediate past CJN who resigned from office on Sunday on “health grounds.”
Ariwoola took the oath of office at 3:14 pm at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa. He is expected to hold the office in an acting capacity until his confirmation by the Senate as a substantive CJN.
Born on August 22, 1958, Justice Ariwoola from Iseyin, Oyo State, was formerly a justice of the Court of Appeal before his promotion to the Supreme Court bench in 2011.
He was a justice of the Court of Appeal between 2005 and 2011 following his elevation from the State High Court of Oyo State. Justice Ariwoola was first appointed a judge of the Superior Court of record in Oyo State in 1992 from private legal practice.
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Mohammad, the outgone CJN was recently reported to be in a crisis with his fellow justices over allegations of uncaring attitude leveled against him by his brother justices of the Supreme Court.
The CJN had in his official reaction, admitted that the Supreme Court like any other establishment in the country at the moment has been hit by a devastating economic crunch.
Mohammad said the apex court under his leadership could no longer meet some of its obligations to justices, especially in the area of welfare.
He, however, stated that despite the letter from the aggrieved justices, there was no rift between him and the justices of the Supreme Court.
But speaking to State House journalists, on what he would be doing differently, Justice Ariwoola assured that he would preserve, abide and protect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“And so be it. That is what I will do, especially with the cooperation of my brother justices of the Supreme Court. We shall not fail Nigerians.
On how intends to handle the alleged crisis in the apex court, the acting CJN said there was no crisis, adding “we are one with the outgoing chief justice. That’s why you heard the president say His Lordship is disengaging on the grounds of ill-health. No controversy, we are one”
He described the welfare letter that was written by 14 justices of the court as an “internal memo” and not a petition.
“It was an internal memo of the court. It was not a petition. It was not a letter. It was addressed by the brother justices of the CJN and presented to His Lordship directly.
Ariwoola while noting that the memo detailed issues to be resolved among the justices of the Supreme Court, said the issues were already being resolved. “Yeah, we’ve started resolving them,” he said.
BusinessDay gathered that the acting CJN would be retiring from service in 2028.
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