By Elohor Igbru, Abuja
It was the end of an era on Monday, one which many learned members of the Nigerian Bar described as one of the lowest and darkest in the history of justice in the country as President Muhammadu Buhari swore in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Ariwoola’s swearing in followed the resignation of Justice Tanko Muhammed on health ground. This claim comes on the heels of several allegations of corruption against him.
Justice Ariwoola, the next most senior in the hierarchy of the Supreme Court was born on Aug. 22, 1958 and 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.
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.
Ariwoola will retire by 2028.
