Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the 22nd Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, has officially retired from service 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.
Born on 22 August 1954, Justice Ariwoola had a distinguished judicial career spanning over four decades.
He was appointed to the Supreme Court bench on 22 November 2011, and later became the substantive CJN on 27 June 2022, following the resignation of his predecessor, Justice Tanko Muhammad.
His appointment as CJN was formally confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on 21 September 2022.
Prior to his appointment as CJN, Justice Ariwoola served as a judge of the Oyo State High Court and later as a Justice of the Court of Appeal in 2005.
He was sworn in as the substantive CJN by former President Muhammadu Buhari on 12 October 2022.
Following his retirement, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, is expected to take over in an acting capacity.
The National Judicial Council, NJC, has recommended her to President Bola Tinubu as the next CJN.
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