In the Council Chambers of the State House in Abuja on Monday, President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retired) swore in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the interim Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Several hours after Tanko Muhammad, the previous CJN, resigned, Ariwoola, the senior Justice of the Supreme Court, was sworn in.
Justice Ariwoola, who was raised in Iseyin, Oyo State, and was born on August 22, 1958, formerly served as a Justice of the Court of Appeals before being promoted to the Supreme Court bench in 2011.
Three Chief Justices have been appointed by the Buhari-led administration in both interim and substantive capacities since it took power in 2015.
Justice Mahmud Mohammed was replaced as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) in March 2017 by Justice Walter Onnoghen, who was born in Bauchi, was replaced by Justice Tanko Muhammad, who abruptly resigned on Monday morning due to an unexplained health concern, after Onnoghen was suspended in January 2019 for an alleged fake asset declaration.
Following President Buhari’s request, Justice Ariwoola will serve in an acting capacity up until the Senate confirms him.
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.
The Commander of the Order of Nigeria was also bestowed upon the departing CJN by the President.
Buhari commended former CJN Tanko’s contribution to democracy and awarded him the title of the GCON.
According to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retired), the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammad Tanko, will be remembered favorably for his contributions to Nigeria’s democracy.
Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger is the second-highest national honor in Nigeria. For former CJNs, this honor is customary.
Speaking on Tanko, Buhari said, “CJN Tanko dealt firmly with the issue of reckless and indiscriminate grant of ex-parte Orders that was assuming serious dimensions.
