Olukayode Ariwoola retires as Chief Justice of Nigeria

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola has retired after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

A valedictory session was held in his honour on Thursday at the Supreme Court premises in Abuja.

Ariwoola’s legal career began when he earned his Bachelor of Law degree with honours from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in July 1980.

He was called to the bar a year later and enrolled as a solicitor at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Over the years, he served as a judge of the Oyo State High Court before being elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2005.

Then President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Ariwoola as acting CJN in June 2022 following the resignation of Justice Tanko Muhammad on health grounds. Ariwoola was subsequently sworn in October of the same year following his confirmation by the Senate.

Ariwoola was 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.

He studied law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife and bagged his bachelor of laws degree with honours in July 1980. In July 1981, Ariwoola was called to the Bar and enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor.