Justice Olukayode Ariwoola on Thursday bowed out as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), having attained the retirement age of 70.
At a valedictory session in his honour at the Supreme Court in Abuja, Justice Ariwoola called for measures to be put in place to reduce the burden on the Supreme Court.
He explained that there are too many cases before the apex court which ought to have terminated at the appellate court.
Justice Ariwoola, who turned 70 on Thursday, August 22, said access to justice has contributed largely to the delay in the hearing of cases as litigants and lawyers are forced to wait for several years to have their cases decided.
He explained that the right to a fair hearing can only be guaranteed when lawyers and litigants do not have to wait for so long to have their cases heard.
He also stressed the need for the bench to have more judicial officers to adjudicate on all matters timeously.
Justice Ariwoola was appointed as acting CJN in June 2022 by then President Muhammadu Buhari following the resignation of Justice Tanko Muhammad on health grounds. He was subsequently sworn in October of the same year after he was confirmed by the Senate.
Ariwoola bagged a Bachelor of Laws degree with honours in July 1980 from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife. He was called to the Bar in July 1981 and enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor.
He was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2011. He was a Justice of the Court of Appeal between 2005 and 2011 after having been elevated from the State High Court of Oyo State.
Meanwhile, the National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to President Bola Tinubu for appointment as CJN.
