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President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola of the Supreme Court as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the swearing-in took place at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.
President Buhari administered the oath of office to Justice Ariwoola following Justice Tanko Muhammad’s resignation.
The Acting CJN, Justice Ariwoola was born on August 22, 1958. He was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court in 2011.
He was a Justice of the Court of Appeal between 2005 and 2011 after having been elevated from the State High Court of Oyo State.
Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, he served as Justice of the Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos Divisions.
Justice Ariwoola is expected to serve in an acting capacity until he is confirmed by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
Justice Ariwoola is the next most senior after Justice Mary Odili retired on May 12 after attaining the retirement age of 70.
TNG reports that Ariwoola will retire by 2028.
Recall that Muhammad resigned from his position, reportedly on health grounds, according to the former CNJ’s Special Assistant on Media, Mr Isah Ahuraka.
President Buhari swore in Muhammad as CJN in January 2019 following the suspension and later sack of former CJN Walter Onnoghen.
In a historic move, Justice Muhammad on Feb. 12, included lawyers among those to be considered in the next round of appointments as Justices of the Supreme Court.
On June 21, Muhammad responded to a memo sent to him by 14 Justices of the Apex Curt complaining of poor welfare conditions and the deplorable state of the court.
Muhammad addressed the wide-ranging issues, including non-provision of diesel allowances for Justices, non-provision of equipped offices, accommodation, and the complete set of vehicles for new Justices appointed two years ago, among others.
He also addressed the issue of the non-holding of regular meetings with the justices.
The internet services, he said, have been restored to Justices’ residences and chambers, just as some allowances have been paid to them.
He allayed the fear of the general public assuring that “there’s no hostility or adverse feelings amongst the Justices of the Supreme Court, as everyone is going about his normal duty.”
”Judges in all climes are to be seen and not heard,” he said.