Supreme Court To Hold Valedictory Session Aug 22 As Ariwoola Retires

On Thursday, August 22, 2024, a vedictory court session will be held in honour of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola (GCON), the departing Chief Justice of Nigeria, according to a spokesperson for the supreme court.

According to Festus Akande, the legal year of the Supreme Court for 2023 and 2024 concluded on Friday, July 19, 2024.

The court, he said, had a holiday on Monday, July 22, 2024, and will return on Monday, September 23, 2024, for the first term of the 2024/2025 legal year.

In addition, the ceremony to welcome the new legal year of 2024/2025 is set to take place on Monday, September 30, 2024, according to Akande.

Then, in June 2022, after Justice Tanko Muhammad resigned due to health reasons, President Muhammadu Buhari chose Ariwoola to become acting CJN. Ariwoola was sworn in and his nomination was ratified by the Senate in October of that year.

A justice since 2011, Ariwoola was appointed by Nigeria’s highest court. From 2005 till 2011, he was a Justice of the Court of Appeal after being elevated from Oyo State’s State High Court.

Earning a Bachelor of Laws degree with honours in July 1980 from what is now Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile Ife, he studied law at the University of Ife. Ariwoola became a solicitor at Nigeria’s highest court in July 1981 after receiving his bar call.

On August 22, 2024, Ariwoola will reach the age of 70.