The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Wednesday, inaugurated Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria.
The inauguration took place shortly before the commencement of this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting.
In attendance were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and Governors Seyi Makinde and Rotimi Akeredolu of Oyo and Ondo states, respectively among others.
Ariwoola, who spoke to State House Correspondents after the inauguration, urged politicians vying for various offices in the 2023 elections to allow the judiciary to function properly.
He said, “Politicians should allow the judiciary to function. Law is not static and that is why you have seen that the National Assembly continues to amend the laws, and it is the law that the courts apply to the facts available.
“We shall continue to do justice if only Nigerians will allow us to perform and function without any pressure.”
On his new appointment, Ariwoola said, I shall not let Nigerians down.
“We shall make progress and advance the judiciary to benefit not only the common man but all men and women.”
The new CJN promised to pursue reforms at the apex court across several lines such as the integration of technology for easy court proceedings and by extension, speedy delivery of justice.
In his remarks, Makinde, on behalf of the people and government of Oyo State, thanked the President for Ariwoola’s confirmation.
The Oyo State Governor also faulted speculations that trailed his absence from the flag-off of the Peoples Democratic Party campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, saying he was campaigning “at home.”
“I’ve been busy at home, in Oyo State, campaigning for everybody. Uyo is not where I need to pull the votes together, it’s in Oyo State. So, I stayed in Oyo,” Makinde said.
