- Ariwoola was sworn in as the substantive CJN by former President Muhammadu Buhari on October 12, 2022, following the controversial resignation of Ibrahim Muhammad, his predecessor.
- The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended her to President Bola Tinubu as the next CJN.
Olukayode Ariwoola, the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, has called or urgent steps to address the accumulation of unresolved cases at the supreme court.
Ariwoola spoke during the valedictory session held in his honour on Thursday at the supreme court premises in Abuja.
He said that the excessively long wait times for court cases to be heard and resolved are a major obstacle to accessing justice, undermining the right to a fair and timely hearing.
The immediate past CJN said he approved the supreme court rules 2024 designed to keep pace with the changing times and address pressing concerns.
He said that when he became CJN two years ago, he was alarmed by the fact that the procedural rules governing the supreme court had not been updated in almost four decades, despite the significant technological advancements since then.
Ariwoola added that despite periodic updates to practice directions to reflect changing justice needs, the fundamental rules governing court procedures have remained stagnant since 1985.
“At the time the supreme court rules 1985 were made, things that are now ubiquitous, like information technology, electronic transactions, and global telecommunication, were either not in existence or in their formative stages. How, then, could such outdated rules be adequate for today’s challenges?,” he said.
“It was for this reason that I empaneled a Rules Committee to undertake the arduous task of reviewing the 39-year-old rules and the numerous extant practice directions comprehensively.
“I am glad to report that earlier this month, pursuant to the provisions of Section 236 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, I signed off on the New Supreme Court Rules 2024.”
The ex-CJN said that a court’s rules of procedure are vital to its functioning and must be regularly updated to reflect the changing needs of both legal practitioners and the judiciary, ensuring they remain relevant and effective.
Speaking further, Ariwoola said the Supreme Court handled a total of 1,124 cases in the 2023/2024 legal year, comprising 435 civil cases, 269 civil motions, 219 criminal cases, and 102 criminal motions.
He added that, notably, the apex court received 89 political appeals and 10 originating summons, surprisingly, in a non-election year.
“During the same period, we delivered a total of 248 judgments and rulings, with 92 judgments in civil and originating summons cases, 81 judgments in criminal appeals, and 74 judgments in political appeals,” he said.
The former CJN added that recognizing the supreme court’s workload led to a collaborative summit between the National Judicial Institute, Ministry of Justice, and Nigerian Bar Association, yielding promising decisions to enhance the justice sector.
He expressed gratitude to his fellow justices, including the incoming CJN Kekere-Ekun, Justices Okoro and Ogunwumiju, as well as Muiz Banire and Yakubu Maikyau, NBA president, for their dedication and contributions to the new rules.
Ariwoola was sworn in as the substantive CJN by former President Muhammadu Buhari on October 12, 2022, following the controversial resignation of Ibrahim Muhammad, his predecessor.
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