15th August 2024, NewsOrient, News

Preparations for the formal retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) has begun in earnest.

If everything works the way it is planned Justice Ariwoola will, on August 22, formally bow out of service after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Already, a valedictory court session in honour of the retiring CJN has been fixed for Thursday, August 22, 2024.

It is therefore expected that as soon as Justice Arewoola steps out on that August 22, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, will take over from Ariwoola as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.

This is so because it is said to be the tradition of the National Judicial Council (NJC), which has the CJN as its Chairman, to recommend the most Senior Justice of the Supreme Court to the President for appointment to the office of the CJN.

Justice Ariwoola, the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria hails from Oyo State.

He was appointed CJN on October 12, 2022, after the retirement of Justice Tanko Mohammed from Bauchi State.

NewsOrient learnt that the National Judicial Commission (NJC), the body that oversees the appointment, promotion, and discipline of judges in Nigeria, may be having a crucial meeting before the August 22 Justice Arewoola’s valedictory court session and formal exit where it is being speculated that they may take decision on the issue of his succession.

Justice Kekere-Ekun, 66, has sat at the Supreme Court Bench for 11 years. If the learned Judge emerges the next CJN, she will become the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Photo Credit: Supreme Court of Nigeria

Photo Caption 1: Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria
Photo Caption 2: Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun (JSC)

~ NewsOrient