Justice Olukayode Ariwoola retired on Thursday as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), advocating for reforms to reduce the overwhelming number of cases before the Supreme Court.
He emphasized that many cases reaching the apex court should have been resolved at the appellate level.
Speaking at a valedictory session held in his honor at the Supreme Court in Abuja, Ariwoola highlighted how access to justice has significantly contributed to delays in case hearings, leaving litigants and lawyers waiting for years for their cases to be decided. He underscored that the right to a fair hearing is compromised when justice is delayed.
Ariwoola also called for the appointment of more judicial officers to ensure timely adjudication of matters, stressing the importance of a well-resourced bench in delivering justice efficiently.
The valedictory session was followed by the public presentation of a book titled “Judging With Justice”, written in Ariwoola’s honor, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, and Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who has been recommended by the National Judicial Council to succeed Ariwoola as CJN.
Justice Ariwoola was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court in 2011. Prior to that, he served as a Justice of the Court of Appeal from 2005 to 2011 and was elevated from the State High Court of Oyo State. He studied law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), graduating with honors in July 1980, and was called to the Bar in 1981.
Ariwoola, who was appointed as acting CJN in June 2022 and later confirmed by the Senate, turned 70 today, marking the official age of retirement for judicial officers in Nigeria.