The immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has called for for the need to put measures in place to reduce the burden of cases on the Supreme Court.
Justice Ariwoola made the call while performing his last official function as the Chief Justice of the nation and head of the Judicial arm of government, at a valedictory session in his honour at the Supreme Court chambers in Abuja on Thursday.
Hearing in some cases at the Supreme Court docket have been given dates stretching as far as 2026 because there are too many cases before the Apex court which ought to have terminated at the Appeal Court.
Justice Kayode Ariwoola while delivering his speech at the event, having attained mandatory retirement age of 70 said the delay in the hearing of cases is forcing litigants and lawyers to wait for several years to have their cases decided.
Justice Ariwoola explained that the right to fair hearing can only be guaranteed when lawyers and litigants do not have to wait for so long to have their cases heard.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in their separate speeches advocated for the protection of the rights of citizens and the need for a fair and just judiciary in the country.
The event was graced by family members, friends and we’ll wishers of now retired Justice Kayode Ariwoola who was born on August 22, 1954, served as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) from 2022 to 2024.
He was a Justice of the Court of Appeal between 2005 and 2011, after having been elevated from the Oyo State High Court.
He studied Law at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and bagged his Bachelor of Law Degree with honours in July 1980.
In July 1981 Justice Ariwoola was called to the Nigerian Bar and got enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria a Solicitor and Advocate.
Editor: Ken Eseni
