Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the most senior Justice at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, is billed to succeed Justice Tanko Muhammad as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) after the later’s sudden resignation.
According to a report by the LEADERSHIP newspaper, Tanko’s resignation has been confirmed by the CJN’s spokesperson, Ahuraka Isah on Monday morning.
If he eventually takes over, Ariwoola is billed to leave the judicial service in 2028.
Born 22 August 1958, Justice Ariwoola was a Justice of the Court of Appeal before his appointment on 11 November 2011 as Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Bar Association, and the Nigerian Body of Benchers.
Ariwoola was among the Supreme Court justices that heard appeal of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the declaration of incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the 2019 election.
