President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, on Monday, at the Council Chambers in Abuja.
This followed the resignation of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, as Chief Justice of Nigeria, over health challenges.
Justice Ariwoola who took over from the immediate past CJN, is currently the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court.
Justice Ariwoola, born on the 22nd of August 1958, was formerly a Justice of the Court of Appeal and was elevated to the Supreme Court bench following his transfer from the State High Court of Oyo State.
Buhari however conferred the second highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony, Buhari who showered encomium at Tanko, said his immense contributions to the development of the judiciary in Nigeria is unprecedented.
He said under Justice Muhammad’s watch the judiciary judiciously exercised its powers in line with the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The brief ceremony was witnessed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and some Justices the of Supreme Court.