Justice Olukayode Ariwoola GCON (born 22 August 1954) is a prominent Nigerian jurist who currently serves as the Chief Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Prior to his appointment as Chief Justice, Ariwoola was a justice on the Nigerian Court of Appeal and was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria on 22 November 2011. He assumed the role of substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria on 27 June 2022, following the resignation of his predecessor, Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad. His appointment was formally confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on 21 September 2022.
Early Life and Education
Ariwoola was born in Iseyin, Oyo State. He began his primary education at Local Authority Demonstration School in Oluwole, Iseyin Local Government Area. He then attended Muslim Modern School in the same town from 1968 to 1969 and later completed his high school education at Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, Shaki, Oyo State.
Legal Career
Ariwoola graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife, Osun State, where he earned his Bachelor of Laws (LLB). He was admitted to the Nigerian Bar and enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate in July 1981. His legal career began with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as a State Counsel at the Ministry of Justice, Akure, Ondo State, followed by a position as a Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice, Oyo State. He left the State Civil Service for private practice in 1988 and worked in the chambers of Chief Ladosu Ladapo, SAN, before establishing his own firm, Olukayode Ariwoola & Co, in Oyo Town in August 1989.
In November 1992, Ariwoola was appointed as a Judge of the Oyo State Judiciary. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Phonex Motors Ltd, a part of the Oodua Investment conglomerate, from 1988 to 1992, and as Chairman of the Armed Robbery Tribunal, Oyo State, from May 1993 to September 1996. He was then transferred from Ibadan to Saki High Court. Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, Ariwoola served as a Justice of the Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Enugu, and Lagos Divisions.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola is currently the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Peoplesmind
