Barring any last minute change, the National Judicial Council, (NJC) will on August 16, meet to decide on the successor of the outgoing Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
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Ariwoola is expected to leave office on August 22, when he will attain the mandatory retirement age of 70.
A source in the judicial body said a date has been fixed to decide on who becomes the next CJN.
The NJC will make a selection of whoever will succeed Ariwoola and recommend same to President Bola Tinubu for appointment.
The source said, “The NJC has fixed Friday to meet to take a decision on the name to be forwarded to the President on who the next CJN would be. No name has been sent to the President yet as the NJC has not even met.”
The Supreme Court currently has the full complement of 21 Justices.
In the tradition of the apex court, the next in line is expected to succeed the incumbent in office as the CJN.
Therefore, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun who is the most senior Justice on the apex court bench is most likely to succeed Ariwoola.
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