Category: Judiciary

Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the 22nd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), has officially retired from active service upon reaching the compulsory retirement age of 70.   Born on August 22, 1954,Justice Ariwoola’s journey to the top of Nigeria’s judiciary started on November 22, 2011, when he was appointed to the Supreme Court bench.   He later became the substantive CJN on June 27, 2022, following the abrupt resignation of his predecessor, Justice Tanko Muhammad.   His appointment was formally confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on September 21, 2022.   However, as…

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has ordered former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to present himself for arraignment.   The court in its verdict on Tuesday, August 20, also restrained him from taking further action until he is arraigned. The court further set aside the judgment previously delivered by the Kogi State High Court.   Bello’s whereabouts have been unknown since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, attempted to arrest him during a raid from his residence in Abuja, a few months ago.   Governor Usman Ododo…

The National Judicial Council (NJC), during an unexpected closed-door meeting on August 15, 2024, has proposed Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria. Additionally, the NJC recommended 27 others for appointment as judges to the state high court, in the ongoing session Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the current Chief Justice, is set to retire on August 22, 2024, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.   More details to follow…

Barring any last-minute change, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun of the Supreme Court is set to emerge as the next chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).   If she assumes the office, Kekere-Ekun would become the second female justice in Nigeria to hold the exalted position after Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, who was CJN between July 2012 and November 2014, spending 28 months in office.     The current occupant of the office, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who assumed office on June 27, 2022, will formally bow out on Thursday, August 22, 2024, after attaining…

The Supreme Court has granted autonomy to all the 774 local governments across the 36 states in Nigeria.   The court also ruled that the federal government should henceforth pay allocations directly to local government councils from the federation account.   Delivering judgment in the suit on Thursday, a seven-member panel of justices held that state governments have continued to abuse their powers by retaining and using the funds meant for LGAs.   In May, the federal government filed a suit at the Supreme Court against governors of the 36…

Justice John Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, has rejected a request by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to transfer his N80.2 billion fraud case from Abuja to the Kogi division of the court.   The Chief Judge sided with Dr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who argued that Bello’s application was flawed on three grounds.   The ruling means the case will continue to be heard in Abuja.   Yahaya Bello is facing a 19-count charge of alleged money…