Olukayode Ariwoola

Olukayode Ariwoola GCON
Chief Justice of Nigeria
In office 27 June 2022 – 22 August 2024
Preceded by	Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad
Succeeded by	Kudirat Kekere-Ekun
Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
In office 22 November 2011 – 22 August 2024
Personal details
Born	(1954-08-22) 22 August 1954 (age 70) Iseyin, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now in Oyo State, Nigeria)
Education	Obafemi Awolowo University

Olukayode Ariwoola GCON^[1](born 22 August 1954) is a Nigerian jurist and justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who served as the chief justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2022 to 2024.^[2][3] He was formerly a justice of the Nigerian courts of appeal and on 22 November 2011, he was appointed to the bench of the supreme court of Nigeria.^[4] He was appointed substantive chief justice of Nigeria on 27 June 2022 following the resignation of former chief justice Tanko Muhammad^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]} and formally confirmed chief justice by the Nigerian Senate on 21 September 2022.^[11][12]

Early life and education

Ariwoola was born in Iseyin, Oyo State, started his primary education in Local Authority Demonstration School, Oluwole in Iseyin local government area of Oyo State. He then proceeded to Muslim Modern School in the same town from 1968 to 1969 and later attended Ansar-Ud-Deen High School Shaki, Oyo State where he completed his High School.^[13]

Legal career

Ariwoola graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife, Osun State where he obtained his Bachelor's degree in law (LLB). He was called to the Nigerian bar and got enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate in July 1981. Ariwoola started his career as a State Counsel on National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Ministry of Justice, Akure, Ondo State and later as a Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice, Oyo State until 1988 when he voluntarily left the State Civil Service for private practice. He had worked as Counsel in Chambers of Chief Ladosu Ladapo, SAN between October 1988 and July 1989 when he established Olukayode Ariwoola & Co – a firm of legal Practitioners and Consultants in Oyo town in August 1989 from where he was appointed in November 1992 as a Judge of Oyo State Judiciary. He was chairman, Board of Directors, Phonex Motors Ltd – one of Oodua Investment conglomerate between 1988 and 1992, chairman, Armed Robbery Tribunal, Oyo State between May 1993 and September 1996 when he was posted out of the headquarters, Ibadan to Saki High Court. Ariwoola before his elevation to the Supreme Court served as Justice of the Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos Divisions.

Justice Olukayade Ariwoola is presently the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).^[14][12]

Membership

• Member, Nigerian Bar Association
• Member, International Bar Association
• Member, Nigerian Body of Benchers

National honours and Recognitions

In October 2022, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), a Nigerian national honour was conferred on Ariwoola by President Muhammadu Buhari.^[15]

On 11 June 2024, he was conferred with the title of Special Marshal by the FRSC.^[16]

References

1. "FULL LIST: Okonjo-Iweala, Abba Kyari... FG nominates 437 persons for national honours". TheCable. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
2. "10 things you probably don't know about Olukayode Ariwoola, the new CJN | Intel Region". 27 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
3. "Nigeria: CJN Swears in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola As JSC". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
4. "Senate confirms Justice Ariwoola for Supreme Court". The Nation Newspaper. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
5. "Ariwoola Emerges Acting CJN After Muhammad is Forced Out – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
6. "Buhari swear in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as acting CJN". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
7. "BREAKING: Justice Tanko Muhammad resigns As CJN". Punch Newspapers. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
8. Oamen, Samuel (27 June 2022). "BREAKING: CJN Tanko Mohammad resigns The Nation Newspaper". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
9. "UPDATED: Buhari to swear in new CJN after Tanko Muhammad's resignation – Premium Times Nigeria". 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
10. "UPDATED: Justice Olukayode Ariwoola Takes Oath Of Office As Acting CJN". Channels Television. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
11. Jeremiah, Urowayino (21 September 2022). "Breaking: Senate Confirms Ariwoola as CJN". Vanguard News. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
12. "Senate confirms Olukayode Ariwoola as CJN". TheCable. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
13. "15 things to know about acting CJN Ariwoola". Punch Newspapers. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
14. "Breaking: Buhari Writes Senate, Seeks the confirmation of Ariwoola as CJN". Vanguard News. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
15. "Buhari Confers National Honours on Lawan, Okonjo-Iweala, Ariwoola, Obaigbena, Kyari, Chimamanda, 444 Others – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
16. "Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola Honored as Special Marshal by FRSC - Daily Naija News". 11 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.

11. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/07/breaking-buhari-writes-senate-seeks-the-confirmation-of-ariwoola-as-cjn/