Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, swore in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.
Ariwoola, who is the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court was sworn-in at around 3:00pm, hours after the sudden resignation of the former CJN, Tanko Muhammad.
Born on August 22, 1958, Justice Ariwoola, who hails from Iseyin, Oyo State, was formerly a Justice of the Court of Appeal before being elevated to the Supreme Court bench in 2011.
Since the Buhari-led regime emerged in 2015, it has appointed three Chief Justices in both acting and substantive capacities.
In March 2017, then acting President Yemi Osinbajo nominated Justice Walter Onnoghen as the CJN to replace Justice Mahmud Mohammed.
In January 2019, however, Onnoghen was suspended for alleged false asset declaration, paving the way for the Bauchi-born Justice Tanko Muhammad, who suddenly resigned on Monday morning for an undisclosed health issue.
Buhari also during the ceremony conferred the second highest national award of GCON on Tanko.
“In line with the custom of decorating Chief Justices of Nigeria with the second highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, (GCON), and upon the advice of the Council of State in that regard, as his Lordship CJN I. Tanko Muhammed is taking a bow from the Supreme Court, I hereby bestow on him the National Honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, (GCON),”
the President said.
(Punch/vitalnewdngr.com)
