Ariwoola Is Sworn In By Buhari As The Nation’s Interim Chief Justice.

Justice Olukayode Ariwoola was sworn in as interim Chief Justice of Nigeria on Monday at the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja by President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret.).

Hours after Tanko Muhammad, the previous CJN resigned, Ariwoola the most senior Justice on the Supreme Court, was sworn in at around 3 o’clock.
He was born in  Iseyin, Oyo State, on August 22, 1958.Justice Ariwoola was promoted to the Supreme Court bench in 2011. Prior to that, he served as a Justice of the Court of Appeals.

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Three Chief Justices have been appointed by the Buhari-led administration in both interim and substantive capacities since it took power in 2015.

To replace Justice Mahmud Mohammed, then-acting President Yemi Osinbajo nominated Justice Walter Onnoghen as CJN in March 2017.

He was replaced by Justice Tanko Muhammad when he was suspended in January 2019 for allegedly making a false asset declaration. On Monday morning, Muhammad abruptly resigned for an undisclosed health issue.

According to President Buhari’s request, Justice Ariwoola would serve in an interim capacity until being approved by the Senate.

The Commander of the Order of the Niger was also bestowed upon the departing CJN by the President.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Inspector-General of Police Usman Baba, additional Supreme Court Justices, Director-General of the State Security Service Yusuf Bichi, and others were present.