The outgone Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola (rtd) has called on all authorities, institutions, and members of the Bar and Bench, particularly at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, to extend their unwavering support to the new acting CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for the betterment of the country.
The immediate-past CJN made this call at the public presentation of his autobiography put together by a lawyer and author, Mr Olanrewaju Akinsola.
According to the retired Justice Ariwoola, the decision to bring together the story of his life and time as a judicial officer in a book was propelled by nothing except for Nigerians to know that anyone could reach his peak as a Nigerian, not minding the person’s background.
The book ‘Judging with Justice: The Autobiography of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola’ was formally made public at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, to mark his 70th birthday and his formal retirement from office as judicial officer and Chief Justice of Nigeria.
While thanking God, his family and those who have helped him in one way or another to reach the pick of his career, the former CJN noted that the book presented was not published to raise money but to put the story of his humble beginning and what he was able to achieve into writing for others to read and gain from.
Born on August 22, 1954, Justice Ariwoola was elevated to the Supreme Court on November 22, 2011, and was appointed substantive CJN on June 27, 2022, following the resignation of his predecessor, Justice Tanko Muhammad.
The Senate formally confirmed him as the CJN on September 21, 2022.
It would be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had described retired Justice Ariwoola as an epitome of goodness and excellence, stating that “his sojourn on the Bench was a testament to the reward for hard work, dedication, and service to Nigeria and humanity.”
President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the occasion, noted, “His Lordship’s long and inspiring career on the Bench is a testament to the reward for hard work, dedication, and selfless service to the nation and humanity.
“As Chief Justice of Nigeria, His Lordship Justice Ariwoola has used his vast experience and capacity to address the challenges facing the Supreme Court and the Nigerian judiciary.”
Even, the acting CJN, Justice Kekere-Ekun, in sharing her experience working closely with Justice Ariwoola, and invoking a quote from James Baikie’s ‘Peeps at Many Lands: Ancient Rome,’ stated that, “When a nation becomes great, it is never by ferocity or falseness, but always by something in the nation that is good and sterling.
“We have in the person of Justice Ariwoola a living embodiment of these qualities.”
Book reviewer and President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Benedict Bawaph Kanyip, noted that a key theme of the book is that “the only client a judge has is justice.”