NBA Welcomes The Appointment Of Hon. Justice Ariwoola As The Acting CJN, Pledges To Work Together With Him In Cleansing The Judiciary

*Thanks The Ex-CJN, Hon. Justice Tanko Muhammad, For His Service To The Nation
*Wishes The Ex-CJN Speedy Recovery

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) via her President has addressed the resignation of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dr. Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad OFR and the swearing of a new acting Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

In a statement signed by the NBA President, Olumide Akapata, the NBA felicitated with the outgone CJN, Tanko OFR appreciating him for a workable relationship during his time as Chief Justice, and went on to wish him a speedy recovery and success in his endeavours. However, the letter stated that the resignation of the chief Justice could not be seen in isolation of the development in the Supreme Court as regards the letter by 14 Justices concerning the appropriations of Funding.

Thus, the NBA while welcoming in the Newly sworn In CJN, Ariwoola JSC, made it known to the Acting CJN that now more than ever there was need to reform the judiciary and that the Association pledged her support towards assisting the new CJN cleansing the ills that plagued the Nigerian judiciary and the legal profession in general.

Below read the statment.

RESIGNATION OF CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA AND APPOINTMENT OF AN ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has received the news of the resignation, on grounds of ill health, of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Dr. Justice Ibrahim
Tanko Muhammad, CFR.

We thank His Lordship for his lengthy service to the nation, and wish him quick recovery even as we pray for a well-deserved peaceful retirement. In the course of previous publications and communications, I have consistently appreciated the outgone Chief Justice of Nigeria for the cordial working relationship between the Bar and the Bench under our respective administrations. I must do so again today as he
bows out.

It is however impossible, to consider His Lordship’s retirement in isolation of the recent unprecedented developments at the Supreme Court where 14 Justices of the Court censured the outgone Chief Justice of Nigeria over His Lordship’s handling of their welfare and related issues. Beyond this, there is near universal agreement that public confidence in the Judiciary and indeed the legal profession is at an all-time low.

There is now more than ever the need for urgent reforms in the Judiciary and to rebuild the almost dissipated confidence that Nigerians have in the Judiciary and the wider legal profession in Nigeria. These should form the immediate first tasks for Honourable Mr. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who is expected to now take over as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The NBA welcomes the appointment of Honourable Mr. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and pledges its readiness to work together with His Lordship and the Judiciary in cleansing the Augean Stable and addressing the ills that have continued to plague not just the Judiciary but the entire legal profession.

OLUMIDE AKPATA
President
Nigerian Bar Association
27th June 2022