Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, swore in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, Nigeria.
Hours after the resignation of the former CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad, the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Ariwoola, was sworn-in around 3:00pm.
Justice Ariwoola was born on August 22, 1958 and hails from Iseyin, Oyo State, Nigeria. He was elevated from the Court of Appeal to the Nigerian Supreme Court bench in 2011.
Present at the ceremony were Nigerian Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba; other Justices of the Supreme Court, Director-General of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi, amongst others.
Since the Buhari-led government came into office in 2015, it has appointed three Chief Justices in both acting and substantive capacities.
In March 2017, then acting President Yemi Osinbajo nominated Justice Walter Onnoghen as the CJN to replace Justice Mahmud Mohammed.
In January 2019, however, Onnoghen was suspended for alleged false asset declaration, paving the way for the Bauchi-born Justice Tanko Muhammad, who suddenly resigned on Sunday night claiming an undisclosed health issue.