Born In Iseyin, Studied In OAU, Meet Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, The New Acting CJN

With the resignation of Justice Ibrahim Tanko of the Supreme Court, the seat of justice of Nigeria has now been occupied by another most senior judge in the land.

Justice Tanko resigned on Monday, citing health reason for his resignation. However, many Nigerians speculated that his resignation was hinged on the controversies that have been trailing the supreme court judgement since he assumed office.

Following his resignation, justice Olukayode Ariwoola was sworn-in by President Muhammadu Buhari today having been the most senior and qualified justice of the supreme court at the moment.

Born on 22nd of August 1958, Ariwoola is a native of Iseyin, in Oyo State. He had his elementary education at Local Authority Demonstration School between 1959 and 1967.

He was in the Muslim Modern School in the same town between 1968 and 1969 before proceeding to Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, Saki in Oyo North of Oyo State.

He studied law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife and bagged his bachelor of laws degree with honors in July, 1980. Olu Ariwoola was called to the Nigeria bar in July 1981 and got enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate soon thereafter.

 The new CJN was formerly a justice of the court of Appeal before he was elevated to the Supreme Court.  He was also the Chief Justice of Oyo State High Court before he was promoted to Supereme Court bench.

His Lordship was a State Counsel on National Youth Service (NYSC) at the Ministry of Justice, Akure, Ondo State and later as Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice of his home state Oyo State until 1988 when he voluntarily left the official bar of the State Civil Service for private practice.

He 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.

Justice Ariwoola served as 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.

His Lordship served on the Election Tribunals in Zamfara and Enugu States in 1999. On Election Appeal Courts in Port-Harcourt, Enugu, Benin, Yola and Ilorin at various times

He has attended many International and National conferences and workshops in France, Atlanta Georgia, UK and Dubai, UAE.

He is happily married with children.