By Eric Elezuo
After days of uncompromising scandals that rocked the nation’s apex court, the Supreme Court, the erstwhile Chief Justice of the Federation, Tanko Muhammad, took a bow, and resigned, paving the way for the ascension of a new Chief Justice. Consequently, President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in the next in rank, in the person of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Ariwoola, an indigene of Iseyin, in Oyo State, and the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court as at the time Tanko resigned, blaming ill-health for his actions, has according to reports, been a vocal member of the apex court prior to his appointment.
Born on August 22, 1958, Justice Ariwoola, started his education in Iseyin at the Local Authority Demonstration School, Oluwole, Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State, where he finished his primary education, and obtained a First School Leaving Certificate in 1967.
Between 1968 and 1969, Ariwoola attended the Muslim Modern School also in Iseyin, Oyo State, before proceeding to Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, Saki, in Oyo-North of the State, where he concluded his secondary education, obtaining a West Africa School Certificate (WASC)
Ariwoola proceeded to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife, to study to shortly after, and bagged his Bachelor of Law degree with Honours in July, 1980. He was subsequently called to the Nigerian bar in July 1981, and got enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate soon after.
Ever since, Justice Ariwoola has distinguished himself in the service of the nation, participating in making landmark decisions to keep wheel of justice rolling smoothly.
It is on record that Ariwoola was a State Counsel for the National Youth Service Corps at the Ministry of Justice, Akure, Ondo State, and later a Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice of Oyo State until 1988 when he voluntarily left the official bar of the State Civil Service for private practice. There and then, he worked as Counsel-in-Chambers with the law firm of Chief Ladosu Ladapo, SAN, between October 1988 and July 1989 when he went solo, and established Olukayode Ariwoola & Co; a firm of Legal Practitioners and Consultants, in Oyo town in August, 1989.
Owing to his dexterity and commitment to duties, he was appointed as a Judge of Oyo State Judiciary and sworn in as a Judge of the High Court on November 2, 1992. And then began his meteoritic rise in the body of benchers.
It is worthy of note that Ariwoola is not just about all law, he performed, and creditably in the circular world of entrepreneurship, serving as Chairman, Board of Directors, Phonex Motors Ltd, one of Oodua Investment conglomerate between 1988 and 1992.
Also in May 1993, Ariwoola was appointed and served as Chairman, Armed Robbery Tribunal, Oyo State. A position he held till September 1996 when he was posted out of the headquarters, Ibadan, to Saki High Court, also in Oyo State.
On November 22, 2005, Ariwoola joined the league of priviledged legal practioners when he was sworn in as Justice of the Court of Appeal. From there, he was sworn in as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on November 22, 2011, exactly six years after.
A happily married family man, Justice Ariwoola reached the peak of his legal career when was on Monday, June 27, 2022, he was sworn in as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari following the resignation of Justice Tanko.
Ariwoola was at the forefront of the letter that condemned the former CJN concerning being experienced in the Supreme Court. It is believed that Ariwoola, who officially has five more years in the service, will live up to expectation in service delivery, promptness and equitable distribution of justice.
Congratulations sir!
