10 things to know about new acting CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola
Story from Ademola ADEBAYO
President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Ariwoola was sworn in on Monday at the Council Chambers in Abuja. He took over from the immediate past CJN, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad who resigned on Monday due to health reasons.
READ ALSO: Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, resigns
Here are a few things you should know about the new CJN:
Justice Ariwoola was born on the 22nd of August 1958 and is currently the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court.
He is a native of Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Justice Ariwoola studied law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife and bagged his Bachelor of Law degree with honours in July 1980. Olu Ariwoola was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1981 and got enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate soon thereafter.
Prior to becoming a Justice of the apex court, Justice Ariwoola was appointed a judge of the Oyo State High Court in 1992 and later made a Justice of the Court of Appeal in November 2005.
His Lordship was a State Counsel on National Youth Service (NYSC) at the Ministry of Justice, Akure, Ondo State and later as Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice of his home state, Oyo until 1988 when he voluntarily left the official bar of the State Civil Service for private practice. His Lordship worked as Counsel in Chambers of Chief Ladosu Ladapo, SAN between October 1988 and July 1989 when he established Olukayode Ariwoola & Co – a firm of legal practitioners and consultants in Oyo town in August 1989.
He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Bar Association, and the Nigerian Body of Benchers, and has attended many International and National conferences and workshops in France, Atlanta Georgia, UK and Dubai, UAE.
Justice Ariwoola served as Chairman, Board of Directors, Phonex Motors Ltd – one of Oodua Investment conglomerates between 1988 and 1992. Chairman, Armed Robbery Tribunal, Oyo State between May 1993 and September 1996 when he was posted out of the headquarters, Ibadan to Saki High Court. His Lordship served on the Election Tribunals in Zamfara and Enugu states in 1999 as well as Election Appeal Courts in Port-Harcourt, Enugu, Benin, Yola and Ilorin at various times.
He chaired the Supreme Court panel that recently upheld the use of hijab in Lagos public primary & secondary schools.
Ariwoola was also a member of separate Supreme Court panels that sacked Emeka Ihedioha and David Lyon from Imo and Bayelsa states respectively.
Justice Ariwoola is happily married with children and he loves reading, listening to good music, photography and shopping.
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