Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has been sworn into office as Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
President Muhammadu Buhari administered the oath of office on him at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
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Ariwoola took over from Justice Tanko Muhammad who resigned on health grounds.
While taking the judicial oath, he swore to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He will act as CJN pending the time his name will be forwarded to the Senate by the President for confirmation as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Born on 22 August 1958, Justice Ariwoola from Oyo state was formerly a Justice of the Court of Appeal before being elevated to the Supreme Court bench in 2011.
The acting CJN was accompanied to the ceremony by some Justices of the Supreme Court.
He will act as CJN pending the time his name will be forwarded to the Senate by the President for confirmation as substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Ariwoola becomes the third individual to occupy the top Judiciary job of the country in the life of this administration.
Justice Walter Onnoghen also became the CJN under the President Buhari administration before he resigned from office.
While speaking, President Buhari said he administered judicial oath for him to act as Chief Justice of Nigeria pursuant to Section 231(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as nature abhorred a vacuum after the resignation of Justice Tanko on health grounds.
He said as the nation was approaching a critical general election in 2023, the judiciary must not do anything to fail the ordinary people of Nigeria which might make them lose confidence.
The President also admonished the Justices of the Supreme Court to always remain faithful and bear true allegiance to Nigeria, and to remain committed to the oath of allegiance which they all subscribed to.
Buhari assured of his administration’s commitment “to ensuring the independence of the judiciary and will not do anything nor take any steps to undermine your independence.”
The President, who commended Justice Tanko for his contributions to Nigeria’s judiciary, the strengthening of our democracy and national development, decorated him with the second highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, (GCON).
