As Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad Voluntarily retired on grounds of health reasons, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola takes over as the new the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
CJN’s spokesperson, Ahuraka Isah, has confirmed the retirement of his principal on Monday morning.
Born on December 31, 1953 from Doguwa, Giade Local Government of Bauchi State, Muhammad was expected to retire in 2023.
Billed for swearing-in of the new CJN is slated for 2 p.m, according to sources from the Presidency, Ariwoola is billed to leave the Judicial service in 2028.
Read also: CJN, Supreme Court Justices face-off on welfare issues may deepen
Born on August 22, 1958, Justice Ariwoola was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court in 2011.
He was a Justice of the Court of Appeal from 2005 to 2011 after having been elevated from the State High Court of Oyo State.
Justice Ariwoola was first appointed a Judge of Superior Court of record in Oyo State in 1992 from private legal practice.
Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, he served as Justice of Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos Divisions.
Last year, Justice Muhammad was reported to have travelled to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to treat an undisclosed ailment.
The CJN has been facing a crisis in the judiciary after 14 Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria earlier this month, and was called bow out over poor conditions of service in the judiciary and the welfare of its members.
Justice Ariwoola takes oath of office
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday swore in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Justice Ariwoola of the Supreme Court on Monday took the oath of office as the acting CJN.
Buhari administered the oath of office to Justice Ariwoola during a swearing-in ceremony held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
He is expected to serve in an acting capacity till further confirmation by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
While taking the judicial oath, he swore to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
