Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the 22nd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), has officially retired from service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. A valedictory court session was held in his honor at the Supreme Court complex in Abuja, where he delivered a speech highlighting his achievements and challenges faced during his tenure.
Ariwoola, who was appointed as acting CJN in June 2022 and subsequently sworn in October of the same year, noted that he signed off on the new Supreme Court Rules 2024 earlier this month to address current challenges and suit the times. He explained that the previous rules, which had been in place for 39 years, were outdated and inadequate for today’s challenges.
During his tenure, Ariwoola empaneled a Rules Committee to review the 39-year-old rules and numerous extant practice directions comprehensively. He expressed pride in his accomplishments and thanked his colleagues and staff for their support.
Ariwoola’s retirement marks the end of an era in the Nigerian judiciary, and his legacy is expected to be remembered for years to come. He will be succeeded by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who has been recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC) as his replacement.
